Results Output by OptiStruct

The tables in this section summarize the results output for different analysis types. They show the formats available for each result and the I/O Option Entry that controls the output of the result.

The columns represent the major output streams:
H3D
Hyper3D format (.h3d file
HM
HyperMesh format (.res file)
OP2
Nastran Output2 format (.op2 file)
PCH
Nastran Punch format (.pch file)
OPT
OptiStruct ASCII format (multiple files)
PAT
Patran and Alternative-Patran formats (multiple files)
H3D (MBD)
Hyper3D format for body results (_mbd.h3d)
MRF
Multibody results file (_mbd.mrf)

Linear Static Analysis and Nonlinear Static Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPT PAT Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT
Element Strain Energy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓     ESE
Element Stresses4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   STRAIN
Ply Stresses ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   CSTRESS
Composite Failure Indices ✓ ✓ ✓   ✓   CFAILURE
Ply Strains ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   CSTRAIN
Element Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   FORCE / ELFORCE
Grid Point Stresses ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓     GPSTRESS / GSTRESS
SPC Forces ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   SPCFORCE
MPC Forces ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   MPCFORCE
Grid Point Forces ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   GPFORCE
Applied Loads ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   OLOAD
Contact Force and Pressure ✓   ✓       CONTF

Linear Steady-state Heat Transfer Analysis Results

  H3D OP2 PCH Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Temperatures ✓ ✓ ✓ THERMAL
Element Fluxes and Gradients ✓ ✓ ✓ FLUX
SPC Flux ✓   ✓ SPCFORCE

Linear Transient Heat Transfer Analysis Results

  H3D OP2 PCH Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Temperatures ✓   ✓ THERMAL

Normal Modes Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPT PAT Controlling I/O Option
Eigenvectors ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT
Element Kinetic Energy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓     EKE
Element Strain Energy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓     ESE
Grid Point Energy       ✓     GPKE
Grid Point Stress ✓   ✓       GPSTRESS / GSTRESS
Element Stresses 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains 4 ✓           STRAIN
SPC Forces ✓   ✓ ✓     SPCFORCE
MPC Forces ✓   ✓ ✓     MPCFORCE
Grid Point Forces ✓   ✓ ✓     GPFORCE
Nodal Pressures (Fluid) ✓   ✓ ✓     PRESSURE
Ply Stresses ✓           CSTRESS
Ply Strains ✓           CSTRAIN

Complex Eigenvalue Analysis Results

  H3D OP2 PCH Controlling I/O Option
Eigenvectors ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT

Linear Buckling Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPT Controlling I/O Option
Eigenvectors ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT

Frequency Response Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPT XYPUNCH Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT
Modal Participation Displacements ✓   ✓ ✓     SDISPLACEMENT
Element Energy Loss Per Cycle ✓   ✓ ✓     EDE
Element Kinetic Energy ✓   ✓ ✓     EKE
Element Strain Energy       ✓     ESE
Nodal Velocities ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ VELOCITY
Modal Participation Velocities ✓   ✓ ✓     SVELOCITY
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ACCELERATION
Modal Participation Accelerations ✓   ✓ ✓     SACCELERATION
Element Stresses 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ STRAIN
Modal Stresses 3 ✓   ✓ ✓     STRESS / ELSTRESS
Modal Strains 3 ✓   ✓ ✓     STRAIN
Element Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ FORCE / ELFORCE
SPC Forces ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   SPCFORCE
MPC Forces     ✓ ✓     MPCFORCE
Grid Point Forces ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   GPFORCE
Grid Point Stresses ✓     ✓     GPSTRESS / GSTRESS
Power Flow Field ✓           POWERFLOW
Ply Stresses ✓           CSTRESS
Ply Strains ✓           CSTRAIN
Sound Power ✓           SPOWER
Sound Intensity ✓           SINTENS
Sound Pressure Level ✓           SPL
Applied Load Vectors ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓   OLOAD
Composite Failure Indices ✓           CFAILURE

Coupled Frequency Response Analysis of Fluid-structural Models (Acoustic Analysis) Results

  H3D OP2 PCH Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT
Modal Participation Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ SDISPLACEMENT
Nodal Velocities ✓ ✓ ✓ VELOCITY
Modal Participation Velocities ✓ ✓ ✓ SVELOCITY
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ✓ ✓ ACCELERATION
Modal Participation Accelerations ✓ ✓ ✓ SACCELERATION
Nodal Pressures (Fluid) ✓ ✓ ✓ PRESSURE
Element Stresses 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ STRAIN
Element Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ FORCE / ELFORCE
SPC Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ SPCFORCE
MPC Forces   ✓ ✓ MPCFORCE
Grid Point Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ GPFORCE
Power Flow Field ✓     POWERFLOW
Ply Stress ✓     CSTRESS
Ply Strain ✓     CSTRAIN

Transient Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPTI Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   DISPLACEMENT
Modal Participation Displacements ✓   ✓ ✓   SDISPLACEMENT
Nodal Velocities ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   VELOCITY
Modal Participation Velocities ✓   ✓ ✓   SVELOCITY
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   ACCELERATION
Modal Participation Accelerations ✓   ✓ ✓   SACCELERATION
Element Stresses 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   STRAIN
Modal Stresses 3 ✓   ✓ ✓   STRESS / ELSTRESS
Modal Strains 3 ✓   ✓ ✓   STRAIN
Element Forces ✓   ✓ ✓   FORCE / ELFORCE
MPC Forces     ✓ ✓   MPCFORCE
Ply Stresses ✓   ✓ ✓   CSTRESS
Ply Strains ✓   ✓ ✓   CSTRAIN
Composite Failure Indices ✓         CFAILURE
Applied Load Vectors ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓ OLOAD

Transient Analysis via Fourier Transformation Results

H3D HM OP2 PCH OPTI Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT
Nodal Velocities ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ VELOCITY
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ACCELERATION
Pressure (for Infinite Element Analysis) ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT

Random Response Analysis Results

  OP2 PCH H3D Controlling I/O Option
Displacement

(PSD and RMS)

   ✓ ✓ DISPLACEMENT, XYPEAK / XYPLOT / XYPUNCH
Velocity

(PSD and RMS)

   ✓ ✓ VELOCITY, XYPEAK / XYPLOT / XYPUNCH
Acceleration

(PSD and RMS)

   ✓ ✓ ACCELERATION, XYPEAK / XYPLOT / XYPUNCH
Element Force

(PSD and RMS)

   ✓ ✓ FORCE / ELFORCE, XYPEAK / XYPLOT / XYPUNCH
Element Stress

(PSD)

 ✓ ✓ ✓ STRESS / ELSTRESS, XYPEAK / XYPLOT / XYPUNCH
Element Stress

(RMS)

 ✓ ✓ 1 ✓ STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strain

(PSD)

   ✓ ✓ STRAIN, XYPEAK / XYPLOT / XYPUNCH2
Element Strain

(RMS)

     ✓ STRAIN
SPC Force

(PSD and RMS)

     ✓ SPCFORCE
Composite Stress

(PSD and RMS)

     ✓ CSTRESS
Composite Strain

(PSD and RMS)

     ✓ CSTRAIN

Response Spectrum Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPTI Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓   ✓ ✓   DISPLACEMENT
Nodal Accelerations ✓     ✓   ACCELERATION
Element Stresses ✓   ✓ ✓   STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains ✓   ✓     STRAIN
Element Forces ✓     ✓   FORCE
MPC Forces ✓         MPCFORCE

Multibody Dynamics Analysis Results

  H3D HM OP2 H3D (MBD) MRF Controlling I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   DISPLACEMENT
Nodal Velocities ✓ ✓ ✓     VELOCITY
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ✓ ✓     ACCELERATION
Element Stresses 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strains 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   STRAIN
Body time history         ✓  
System time history         ✓  
Marker time history         ✓ REQUEST
Element and Joint Forces         ✓ MBFORCE

Fatigue Analysis Results

  H3D Controlling I/O Option
Element Life ✓ LIFE
Element Damage ✓ DAMAGE

Explicit Dynamic Analysis Results

H3D5 HM OP2 PCH OPTI Controlling

I/O Option
Nodal Displacements ✓ DISPLACEMENT
Nodal Velocities ✓ VELOCITY
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ACCELERATION
Element Stress ✓ STRESS / ELSTRESS
Element Strain

(including Plastic strain)

 ✓ STRAIN

Explicit Nonlinear Analysis Results (ANALYSIS=EXPDYN)

  H3D OP2 PCH Controlling

I/O Option

 Controlling I/O Option

(Block Format)
Nodal Displacements ✓ ✓   DISPLACEMENT /ANIM/VECT/DISP

/ANIM/VECT/DROT
Nodal Velocities ✓ ✓   VELOCITY /ANIM/VECT/VEL
Nodal Accelerations ✓ ✓   ACCELERATION /ANIM/VECT/ACC
Element Stresses 4 ✓ ✓   STRESS / ELSTRESS /ANIM/BRICK/TENS/STRESS

/ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRESS/UPPER

/ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRESS/LOWER

/ANIM/BEAM/VONM

/ANIM/TRUSS/SIGX
Element Strains 4 ✓ ✓   STRAIN /ANIM/BRICK/TENS/STRAIN

/ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRAIN/UPPER

/ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRAIN/LOWER
Ply Stresses ✓     CSTRESS /ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRESS/N

/ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRESS/ALL
Ply Strains ✓     CSTRAIN /ANIM/SHELL/TENS/STRAIN/ALL
Composite Failure Indices ✓     CFAILURE N/A
Element Forces ✓     FORCE / ELFORCE /ANIM/Eltyp/FORC
Grid Point Stresses ✓     GPSTRESS / GSTRESS /ANIM/GPS1/TENS

/ANIM/GPS1/SHELL/UPPER

/ANIM/GPS1/SHELL/LOWER
SPC Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ SPCFORCE /ANIM/VECT/FREAC

/ANIM/VECT/MREAC
MPC Forces ✓ ✓ ✓ MPCFORCE /ANIM/VECT/FINT
Applied Loads ✓ ✓ ✓ OLOAD /ANIM/VECT/FEXT
Plastic Strain ✓     STRAIN (PLASTIC) /ANIM/ELEM/EPSP

/ANIM/SHELL/EPSP/UPPER

/ANIM/SHELL/EPSP/LOWER
Contact Force and Pressure ✓ ✓   CONTF /ANIM/VECT/CONT

/ANIM/VECT/PCONT
Element Thinning and Thickness ✓ ✓   THIN /ANIM/ELEM/THIC

/ANIM/SHELL/THIN
Element Energy ✓     ENERGY /ANIM/ELEM/ENER

/ANIM/ELEM/HOURG

Optimization Results

  H3D HM OP2 PCH OPT PAT Controlling I/O Option
Element Density ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ DENSITY
Element Thickness ✓ ✓         THICKNESS
Ply Thickness ✓ ✓         THICKNESS
% Thickness ✓ ✓         THICKNESS
Shape ✓ ✓         SHAPE

References

1 Only RMS Stress (total over all frequencies) are output to the PCH file. RMS Stress (cumulative up to a particular frequency) are not output to PCH file.
2 XYPLOT output request is not supported for Shell Strains.
3 The Structural Modal Stresses and Strains and Residual Vectors are output in Modal Frequency Response Analysis via the STRESS (MODAL) and STRAIN (MODAL) options. A possible use-case for Modal Strains is to setup Modal FRF/Modal Transient Analysis and use the Modal Participation Factors and Modal Strains as input for Fatigue Analysis.
4 The element stress and strain results written to the various output streams are not always the same. Refer to the following pages for more details on the stress results available in the different output streams.
5 For Explicit Dynamic Analysis H3D results are output in *_expl.h3d file.