Create a Layup Definition

Incorporate the materials into the composite layup definition.

Composite Layups

After creating new material definitions for each Helius PFA composite material, the next step is to incorporate these materials into the layup definition via the PSOLID, PCOMP, PCOMPG, or PCOMPS 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 a Nastran input 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, 1, 12,
PSOLID, 2, 1, 14,
PSOLID, 3, 1, 13,
PSOLID, 4, 1, 11,
PSOLID, 5, 1, 12,
PSOLID, 6, 1, 14,
PSOLID, 7, 1, 13,
PSOLID, 8, 1, 11,

Here, the PSOLID entry is used to define each ply in the composite layup. The PSOLID entry tells Nastran the property identification number, material identification number, and coordinate system.

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.

Helius PFA supports the following combinations of properties and element types:

Property	Element Type
PSOLID	CHEXA
PSOLID + PCOMP	CHEXA
PSOLID + PCOMPG	CHEXA
PSOLID + PCOMPS	CHEXA
PCOMP	CQUAD, CTRIA

Refer to the Nastran Reference Guide for details surrounding the use of the PSOLID, PCOMP, PCOMPG, or PCOMPS entries.