Learning Forum

[andreavincenzo.denunzio]

Hello everyone, I apologize if this topic has already been raised, but I can't find it on the forum.

I am conducting an analysis in Ansys Workbench that requires defining an orthotropic material. However, since the geometry of the system is a thin laminate, I would like to define only the constants E11, E22, v12, and G12. I don't know the other constants in the Z direction (as they are not of interest to me), but they are required to complete the material definition.

Is there a way to overcome this problem?

I would also like to add the number of layers of the material and the fiber orientation angle, information that I can't find in the material definition window.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Thank you very much.

Andrea

[ErKo]

 

Hi

See this video (for orthotropic material, just define something in z probably does not matter much – check if it does something to results).
(There are a few composite mat., in the engineering data sources and under composite material )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSFrD4WKRkA

All the best

Erik

 

[peteroznewman]

Hello Andrea,

Have you looked in Engineering Data in the Composite Materials Data Source?  There you will find Epoxy Carbon Fiber UD (230 GPa) prepreg. This is the material property for one unidirectional ply (lamina). Click + to add that to your project.

In Workbench, in the Component Systems section, drag out ACP (Pre) to the project page. Open that to define the material, thickness and angle of each ply to define the composite laminate.  ACP (Pre) can transfer that data into Mechanical and compute the correct properties for the shell elements that are meshed on your surface geometry that represents your structure.

There is a lot to learn so I recommend taking some ACP training to get started. 

https://innovationspace.ansys.com/courses/courses/layered-composites-introduction/lessons/ansys-composite-solutions-simulation-tools-lesson-6/

I found a video that shows how to use ACP (Pre) to define the stackup.  The next video shows that and how to use ACP (Post) which includes the stresses in each layer however, in the 2025 R1 release they have removed ACP (Post) because you can get all the same information in Mechanical now.

Regards,
Peter

[andreavincenzo.denunzio]

Very helpful,

thanks to both of you, 

Andrea

[ErKo]

Great that it helped - all the best

Erik