Tutorial A4: Define the Properties and Mesh

Define Material Properties

Create a 2D orthotropic composite material.

  1. In the Model tree, right-click Materials > New.
  2. Change the Name to Carbon/Epoxy Composite.
  3. Set the Type to Orthotropic 2D.
  4. Set the values for material properties under the General, Structural and Allowables sections as shown in the image below.

  5. Click OK to create the material.

Define Element Properties

  1. In the Model tree, under Idealizations, check for any existing definitions under the standard categories, such as Solids and Shells. Solid 1, shown below, is an example of an existing definition:

    If there are any existing definitions, right-click Idealizations > Delete All. Doing this ensures that you won't have unwanted materials appearing in the part mesh and participating in the analysis.

  2. In the Model tree, right-click Idealizations > New.
  3. Change the Name to Carbon/Epoxy Layup.
  4. Select Shell Elements from the Type drop-down.
  5. Ensure that Material is set to Carbon/Epoxy Composite.
  6. Select the Laminate option.

  7. Click the New Laminate button .
  8. In the Laminate dialog box, select Hill from the Failure Theory drop-down menu so that you can look at failure index information when the analysis is complete.
  9. Click Add to create a new ply.
  10. Select Carbon/Epoxy Composite under Material by clicking in the first cell under Material. Set the Thickness to 0.01 (double-click the default thickness to edit the cell). Set Angle to 45. Leave Stress/Strain output to ON.
  11. Create five additional plies. Select the ply 1 row. Just above the table, type 5 in the box next to the Repeat button, then click Repeat .
  12. Change the Angle so that they are 45, -45, 45, -45, 90, 0 going from ply 1 to ply 6.
  13. Select all plies and click on the Symmetric button .
  14. You now have a 12 ply laminate. Click OK to complete the laminate definition.
  15. In the Idealizations dialog box, check Associated Geometry and select the outer surfaces of the part for Quadrilaterals.

  16. Click OK to create the composite physical property.

Define the Mesh

  1. Right-click on Mesh Model and choose Edit.
  2. Enter 0.2 for the Element Size.
  3. Select Element Order as Linear.

  4. Click OK to mesh the geometry.

Parent topic: Tutorial A4: Using Composite Materials in a Bike Frame Section