Composite Modeling Setup

Below is a generate desription of the process you will need to follow to set up your ply-based composite modeling analysis. Under each step is the location of the panel you will need to complete the step:

  1. Given a mesh
  2. Assign element normals
    • Mesh > Assign > Element Normals
  3. Assign element material orientations
    • Mesh > Assign > Element Material Orientation
  4. Create materials
    • Materials > Create
    • Card Image = MAT1 (isotropic) or MAT8 (orthotropic)
  5. Create plies
    • Properties > Create > Plies
    • Card Image = PLY
      • -OR-
    • Import .CATPart with CPD ply data and Realize geometric plies to FE plies
  6. Create laminates
    • Properties > Create > Laminate
    • Card Image = STACK
      • -OR-
    • Edit imported laminate from .CATPart file
  7. Create ply-based template property
    • Properties > Create > Properties
    • Card Image = PCOMPP
  8. Assign ply-based template property to elements
    • Within the Model Browser, right click on a property and select Assign. Then select the elements to assign the property to
  9. Use 3D element representation with composite layers to visualize the composite stack definition
  10. Create boundary conditions
  11. Create load steps
  12. Create control cards
    • Setup > Create > Control Cards
    • Global Output Request > CSTRESS/CSTRAIN for composites
    • Output > Define results output file formats
  13. Export & Solve
  14. Post-Process