Create a Layup Definition

Incorporate the materials into the composite layup definition.

Composite Materials

After creating new material definitions for each Simulation Composite Analysis composite material, the next step is to incorporate these materials into the layup definition via the PSOLID, PCOMP, PCOMPLS, or PSHELL entries. This process involves assigning each element type in the composite layup the proper material identification number, coordinate system, and integration scheme. As an example, consider the lines below from an MSC Nastran bulk data file.

$ 45 degree orientation
CORD2R, 11, , 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0,
, 1.0, 1.0, 0.0
$ 0 degree orientation
CORD2R, 12, , 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0,
, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0
$ neg45 degree orientation
CORD2R, 13, , 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0,
, 1.0, -1.0, 0.0
$ 90 degree orientation
CORD2R, 14, , 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0,
, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0
$
PSOLID, 1, 9002, 12, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 2, 9002, 14, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 3, 9002, 13, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 4, 9002, 11, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 5, 9002, 12, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 6, 9002, 14, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 7, 9002, 13, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED
PSOLID, 8, 9002, 11, 2, GAUSS, REDUCED

Here, the PSOLID entry is used to define each ply in the composite layup. The PSOLID entry tells MSC Nastran the property identification number, material identification number, coordinate system, integration network, location for stress output, and the integration scheme. Refer to the MSC Nastran Quick Reference Guide for details surrounding the use of the PSOLID, PCOMP, PCOMPLS, or PSHELL entries.

Note: Use caution when assigning orientations and property identification numbers. Simply because PSOLID, 1 from above uses a 0 degree ply, does not necessarily mean that the first ply in the laminate is oriented at 0 degrees. The element entries reference the property identification numbers provided with the PSOLID entry, but those numbers do not have to be arranged sequentially in the element definitions.

Cohesive Materials

For cohesive materials, you must define the element properties with the PCOHE entry. Consider the line below from a bulk data file.

PCOHE, 1, 3002, 1, 1.0, , 0

The PCOHE entry tells MSC Nastran the property identification number, material identification number, integration scheme, thickness, output locations, and the element stiffness matrix scheme. You should always set the thickness of the cohesive layer to 1.0. Refer to the MSC Nastran Quick Reference Guide for details surrounding the use of the PCOHE entry.