In MSC Nastran, a finite element analysis (FEA) solver, MONPNT1 defines a specific type of monitor point used for tracking integrated results like forces, moments, or stresses over a defined region (e.g., a surface or volume). It offers a convenient way to extract summarized data rather than examining individual element results. For instance, one might use a MONPNT1 card to calculate the total lift force on a wing by integrating the pressure distribution over its surface. The ‘mean’ value represents the average of the integrated quantity across the specified region. This averaged value is especially useful for simplifying post-processing and comparing different design iterations.
The ability to extract integrated and averaged quantities is essential for efficient design evaluation. Instead of sifting through potentially massive datasets of individual element results, engineers can focus on key performance indicators directly. Historically, accessing such summarized data often required complex post-processing scripts. The MONPNT1 capability streamlines this process, providing readily available performance metrics during the solution phase. This contributes significantly to accelerating the overall design cycle and enables more effective optimization strategies.