Description of an Interface Between MSC/NASTRAN and MATRIX_x With Example Applications

This paper describes an existing interface which allows extraction of linear models from an MSC/NASTRAN output file and conversion into MATRIX_X readable format for control design and simulation. The interface is demonstrated using an MSC/NASTRAN model of a satellite microwave antenna.

In addition to the existing interface, a proposed expanded interface allowing additional information to be transfered between MSC/NASTRAN and MATRIX_X is presented. Candidate information includes component mass and stiffness matrices, and outputs from MSC/NASTRAN’s Design Sensitivity Analysis (DSA) package. This sensitivity data would allow open or closed loop robustness analysis, and simultaneous structural and controller design. Additionally, the ability to transfer linear controllers designed in MATRIX_X to MSC/NASTRAN would allow evaluation of such controllers on the full order model.