representing an aluminum shell over a vehicle structure

[gmagana]

I am using NEIWorks NASTRAN to do FEA on a frame (black section). Covering the frame will be an aluminum shell (red section) that is connected to the body via bars (yellow section). I was thinking of representing this shell as a concentrated mass by finding its C.M and placing the mass at that location, then connecting it some how to the frame.

Does anyone have any tips?

 

[mechfeeney]

What type of analysis?

 

[gmagana]

Static linear I'll be looking at Von Mises and displacment

 

[mechfeeney]

Is it a fender bender analysis? does the shell even come into play in the contact? Is there contact? Where are the loads/bcs applied? Are you applying a concentrated load to a part of the frame?