Materials are considered to be orthotropic if the properties depend on the direction. To use an orthotropic material, the material axes must be defined in the Element Definition dialog box. All the electrostatic element types support orthotropic materials. The orthotropic material properties are listed below. Depending on the analysis type, not all the material properties may be required.
(This property is required for a current and voltage analysis.) The electrical conductivity of a material is the ratio of the current density at a point divided by the electric field at a point in the material in a particular direction. This can also be found by taking the inverse of the resistivity.
For an orthotropic material, the electrical conductivity is defined in three perpendicular directions: r, s, and t. (2D elements do not use the t direction.) See the appropriate page in Element Types and Parameters for information on how to define the material axes.
(This property is required for a field strength and voltage analysis.) The dielectric constant κ is the ratio of the static permittivity of the material (ε s ) relative to the permittivity of a vacuum (ε 0 ) in a particular direction: κ = ε s / ε 0 . The permittivity of a vacuum is a constant calculated by the solver. See the page Analysis Types: Electrostatic: Electrostatic Field Strength and Voltage for details.
For an orthotropic material, the dielectric constant is defined in three perpendicular directions: r, s, and t. See the appropriate page in Element Types and Parameters for information on how to define the material axes.