Structural analysis using Simcenter 3D Laminate Composites

Estimated time to complete: 20–30 minutes

In this activity you will analyze a motorcycle mudguard made of composite materials.

You will create and analyze the laminate layup, and review the fiber orientation using Simcenter 3D Laminate Composites.

You will also simulate the model using NX Nastran.

1: Open the FEM file

  1. On your desktop or the appropriate network drive, create a folder named mudguard.

  2. Click the link below:

    Download the part

  3. Extract the part files to your mudguard folder.

  4. Start Simcenter 3D or NX.

Open the FEM file Mud_Guard_draping.fem from your working directory.

File

  • Open

  • Type

    FEM Files (*.fem)

  • File name

    Mud_Guard_draping.fem

  • OK

     

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Expand the simulation navigator nodes and explore the FEM file.

  Mud_Guard_draping.fem

  Mud_Guard_lam_i.prt

  Polygon Geometry

  Polygon Body (1)

 Mesh Controls

  2D Collectors

  Shell_Collector

  2d_mesh(1)

  CSYS

  Selection Recipes

  Groups

1 – Mud_guard_faces

  Fields

  Modeling Objects

2: Reset dialog box memory

The options you select in dialog boxes are preserved for the next time you open the same dialog box within a given session. Restore the default settings to ensure that the dialog boxes are in the expected initial state for each step of the activity.

File

Preferences→User Interface

  • Options

  •   Reset Dialog Memory

  • OK

     
3: Define a material coordinate system

You will set the material coordinate system (laminate coordinate system) to be inherited from the layup. The X direction of the material coordinate system is set by the draping procedure.

  • Simulation Navigator

  • 2D Collectors→Shell_Collector

  • 2d_mesh(1)

  • Edit Mesh Associated Data

  • Material Orientation Method

    MCID

  • MCID Definition

    Inherited from Layup

  • OK

     
4: Create the laminate physical property

The laminate that you are creating will indicate that the ply stacking sequence is defined by the layup.

Note:

If necessary, right-click in the Ribbon bar area and turn the Laminates tab on.

Laminates

  • Laminate Physical Property (2D group)

  • Name

    Mud_guard_layup

  • Stacking Recipe

    Inherited from layup

  • OK

     

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Shell_Collector

  • Edit

  • Type

    Laminate

  • Shell Property

    Mud_guard_layup

  • OK

     

  • Save

5: Create the global layup

In this step you will create 2 plies of the same thickness (0.15 mm) and the same material (M55J/RS4 weave).

  • Global Layup (2D group)

  • Layup Name

    Mud_guard

    Stacking Recipe

    Symmetric

  • Create New Ply 2 times

  • 1 (Global Ply Id)

  • Shift

    + 2 (Global Ply Id) 

  • Material

    M55J/RS4 weave

  • Thickness

    0.15 mm

  • Enter

     

  • 2 (Global Ply Id)

  • Angle

    45 °

  • Enter

     
Note:

Do not leave the Layup Modeler dialog box.

6: Define the draping input

The draping data for all plies will be the same. You will select the woven solver, which simulates hand layup of a woven fabric that has different properties in X and Y directions. You will drape all four plies starting from the same point and the same direction.

  • 1 (Global Ply Id)

  • Shift

    + 2 (Global Ply Id) 

  • Define Draping Input

     

The Draping Data: Layup Plies dialog box appears.

  • Solver

    Woven

  • Method (Top Border bar)

    Faces by Group

  • Select one of the 10 meshed surfaces.

  • Start Point

  • Note:

    Use Quick Pick to select the Existing Point: Node.

  • Primary Alignment

    Two Points

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Polygon Geometry (hide)

  • Note:

    Use Quick Pick to select the Existing Point: Node for the first mesh node.

    If your vector points in the other direction, click Reverse Direction.

  • OK

     both dialog boxes

  • Save

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Layups→Layup Offset and Material Orientation

  Layups

  Layup Offset

  Top (0)

  Middle (0)

  Bottom (0)

  Material Orientation

  Default: First Ply

  Mud_guard

  Ply 4 (symmetric Ply 1)

  Ply 3 (symmetric Ply 2)

  Ply 2

  2D Objects (10)

  Ply 1

  2D Objects (10)

  Zones

 Laminate Inflation

7: Drape the layup over the mud guard

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Polygon Geometry (show)

  • Ply 1 (under Mud_guard)

  • Update

Note:

The draping process takes 1 to 2 minutes.

Note:

The Information window lists errors and warnings arising during the draping process.

  •   the Information window

Note:

The elements shown in magenta indicate tearing in the layup.

8: Create cut curves

You will create two cut curves on Ply 1 and one on Ply 2 to remove tearing during the draping process.

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Ply 1 (under Mud_guard)

  • Edit

  • Select Cuts (0)

  • OK

     

  • Ply 2

  • Edit

  • Select Cuts (0)

  • on the previous image

  • OK

     

  • Mud_guard

  • Update

    Note:

    The draping process takes 1 to 2 minutes.

  •   the Information window

Note:

You can see that there is no tearing in the draped plies. If however the information window indicates that tearing is still present, this is possibly because you have defined slightly different start point and primary orientation than intended: The complex curvature of the part makes it difficult for the fabric to conform to its outer surface.

9: View the fiber orientations

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Ply 1 (under Mud_guard)

  • View Fiber Orientations

  •   the Information window

Note:

The red zones indicate fiber shearing, as the change in the angle between the warp and weft directions exceeds the specified lock angle.

  • Ply 2

  • View Fiber Orientations

  •   the Information window

10: Create zones

To export the layup to the Nastran solver, you must create zones.

  • Update Global Layups and Zones (Validation group)

  •   the Information window

Note:

Multiple zones are created. By selecting zones in the Simulation Navigator, you can see elements that are included in the selected zone.

11: Open the Simulation file

You have just updated the laminate definition in the FEM file. Now you can open the Simulation file Mud_Guard_draping_sim.sim from your working directory.

File

  • Open

  • Type

    Simulation Files (*.sim)

  • File name

    Mud_Guard_draping_sim.sim

  • OK

     

Simulation Navigator

Expand the simulation navigator nodes and explore the Simulation file.

The Simulation file contains:

  • A fixed constraint on the attachment holes.

  • A symmetry constraint at the curve edge of the mudguard.

  • A pressure load of 1 psi.

12: Solve the model

The model should solve in under 5 minutes.

  • Simulation Navigator

  •  Solution 1

  •  Solve

  • OK

     

  • Wait until the solution is complete.

  • No

     Review Results dialog box

  • the Information window

  • Cancel

      Analysis Job Monitor dialog box

13: Display ply stresses

Display ply stresses calculated by Simcenter Nastran. These stresses are provided at the ply midpoints.

  • Simulation Navigator

  • Results

  • Post Processing Navigator

  • Structural→Ply Stress - Elemental→Ply 1

  • 11

  • None (Results tab→Display group→Edge Style list)

  • Note:

    Observe the location of the maximum 11 stress for ply 1.

14: Create an Advanced Post Report metasolution

You will create a laminate post report node in the Simulation Navigator. From this node, you can create spreadsheet, graphical, and quick reports.

Laminates

  • Advanced Post Report (Reporting group)

  • Solution Selection

    Solution 1

  •   Select

  • Solution 1

  • OK

     

  • Simulation Navigator

    The Laminate Post Report 1 node is created.

 Mud_Guard_draping_sim.sim

 Mud_Guard_draping.fem

 CSYS

Selection Recipes 

 Groups

 Fields

 Modeling Objects

 Regions

 Simulation Object Container

 Constraint Container

 Load Container

 Solver Sets

 Solution 1

 Temperatures

 Simulation Objects

  Constraints

 Subcase – Static Loads 1

  Loads

 Results

 Structural

 Laminate Post Report 1 
15: Export laminate results to spreadsheet

Display ply stress results in a spreadsheet and identify where the maximum stress occurs. You will also display all elements that have stress 11 above 2.7 x 103 MPa.

  • Spreadsheet Report (Reporting group)

  •  Solver Shell Stress Resultants

  •  

  •  Bottom

  •  Middle

  •  Top

  • Output

  •  

  •  Ply Stresses

  •  11

  •  22

  •  Maximum Principal

  •  Minimum Principal

  •  Max Shear

  • Report Options

  • Detailed Output

  •  Enable Detailed Output

  • Filter Type

    Stress 11

  • Threshold Value

    2.7e6 mN/mm2(kPa)

  •  Using Absolute Values (Filter Results)

  • OK

  • Simulation Navigator

  •  Mud_Guard_draping_sim.sim

     Mud_Guard_draping.fem

     CSYS

     Selection Recipes

     Groups

     Fields

     Modeling Objects

     Regions

     Simulation Object Container

     Constraint Container

     Load Container

     Solver Sets

     Solution 1

     Temperatures

     Simulation Objects

      Constraints

     Subcase – Static Loads 1

      Loads

     Results

     Structural

     Laminate Post Report 1 

     Spreadsheet Report 1 

  •   Spreadsheet Report 1

  •   Export to Spreadsheet

    Tip:

    If you do not have Excel installed, use Export to CSV File.

  • Note:

    Observe the location and values of maximum stress.

  • the Microsoft Excel window

16: Display maximum 11 stress for all plies

  • Graphical Report (Reporting group)

  • Output

  •  Ply Stresses

  • Ply Stresses

    Max

  • OK

     

  • Simulation Navigator

  •  Mud_Guard_draping_sim.sim

     Mud_Guard_draping.fem

     CSYS

     Selection Recipes

     Groups

     Fields

     Modeling Objects

     Regions

     Simulation Object Container

     Constraint Container

     Load Container

     Solver Sets

     Solution 1

     Temperatures

     Simulation Objects

      Constraints

     Subcase – Static Loads 1

      Loads

     Results

     Structural

     Laminate Post Report 1

     Spreadsheet Report 1

     Graphical Report 1 

  •   Graphical Report 1

  •  Generate Result File

  • Results (under Graphical Report 1)

  • Post Processing Navigator

  • Graphical Report 1→Max Stresses - Elemental

  • XX

  • Results

  • Feature (Display group→Edge Style list)

  • Note:

    For each element, this result node shows the maximum stress in X direction of all plies (at the middle of the ply).

  • Post View 2

  • Show Critical Global Ply ID

    Note:

    For each element, the software displays the ID of the critical ply.

17: Save and close

Save and close your files when you are finished.

File

  • Save→Save All

File

  • Close→All Parts