SS-T: 1075 Composites

Purpose
SimSolid performs meshless structural analysis that works on full featured parts and assemblies, is tolerant of geometric imperfections, and runs in seconds to minutes. In this tutorial, you will do the following:
  • Learn how to create laminates and sheets in SimSolid.
    Note: Version 2024.1 supports laminates with orthotropic material only on flat parts.
Model Description
The following model file is needed for this tutorial:
  • WingPanel.x_b

Figure 1 shows the wing panel model used for this tutorial. The ribs of the wing panel are imported as CAD surfaces. In this tutorial, you will create laminates for the ribs of the wing panel.

Figure 1.


Activate Import Skins

  1. Launch a new SimSolid session.
  2. Go to Settings > Geometry Import settings.
  3. Set the Resolution to Fine.
  4. Enable the Import skins option, if not already enabled.
  5. Click OK.

Import Geometry

  1. Open a new SimSolid session.
  2. Click Import from file .
  3. In the Open geometry files dialog, choose WingPanel.x_b.
  4. Click Open.
    The assembly will load in the modeling window.

Review CAD Assembly

  1. Right-click on the assembly in the Project Tree, and then select Info.
    The Assembly info dialog opens displaying the 17 skin parts.
  2. To isolate the 17 skin parts, right-click on the assembly and select Show > Skins.
    Figure 2.


Create Orthotropic Material

  1. In the main menu, click Settings ➔ Material database.
  2. Ensure View materials from is set to Material database.
  3. Right-click on Generic Materials and choose Add material in the context menu.
  4. Enter the material name and values as shown in the below figure.
    Figure 3.


  5. Click Apply.
  6. Click Save.

Create Laminates for Large Ribs

  1. On the Assembly workbench, click Create Laminate .
  2. To add a skin in the Create laminate dialog, select one of the parts from Ribs1 in the Project Tree or modeling window.
  3. To add all the instances of the selected rib, select the Include all instances checkbox.
  4. For Stack direction, select Bottom from the dropdown.
    Top
    Stacks the plies along the direction of the reference plane as shown in graphics.
    Bottom
    Same as Top but on the other direction of its reference plane.
  5. Click Edit under Reference material orientation.
    1. Ensure the x-axis is set to [0,0,-1] and the y-axis is set to 0,-1,0].
      Note: SimSolid automatically picks the axis based on the selected skin. Reference material orientation can be manually chosen or can be copied from global or local coordinate system. The coordinate system selected must have is Z axis normal to the selected skin.
    2. Click OK.
  6. To add a ply, click Add ply in the ply stack section.
  7. Change the thickness of Ply 1 to 0.75mm.
    Note: Each field in the ply stack section can be made editable by double-clicking on the respective field.
  8. Click Select Material to apply material.
  9. In the Apply material to Laminate plies dialog, select the Material database radio button.
  10. Select Composite from the list and click Apply material.
  11. Set the Orientation to 0 degrees.
  12. Create additional plies.
    1. To add Ply 2, click Add ply. For thickness enter 0.75mm and set the material to Composite by repeating steps 8, 9 and 10.
    2. Set Orientation to 90 degrees.
    3. Select Ply 1 and Ply 2 and copy and paste to add more plies with the same properties as Ply 1 and Ply 2 to the stack.
  13. Rename the copied plies as Ply 3 and Ply 4.
  14. Review total stack thickness and approximate stack mass shown at the bottom of the dialog.
  15. Click OK to create the laminate.
Figure 4.


Create Laminates for Small Ribs

  1. On the Assembly workbench, click Create Laminate .
  2. To add a skin in the Create laminate dialog, select one of the parts from Ribs2 in the Project Tree or modeling window.
  3. To add all the instances of the selected rib, select the Include all instances checkbox.
  4. Click Edit under Reference material orientation.
    1. Ensure the x-axis is set to [0,0,-1] and the y-axis is set to 0,-1,0].
      Note: SimSolid automatically picks the axis based on the selected skin. Reference material orientation can be manually chosen or can be copied from global or local coordinate system. The coordinate system selected must have is Z axis normal to the selected skin.
    2. Click OK.
  5. For Stack direction, select Bottom from the dropdown.
    Top
    Stacks the plies along the direction of the reference plane as shown in graphics.
    Bottom
    Same as Top but on the other direction of its reference plane.
  6. To add a ply, click Add ply in the ply stack section.
  7. Change the thickness of Ply 1 to 0.4mm.
    Note: Each field in the ply stack section can be made editable by double-clicking on the respective field.
  8. Click Select Material to apply material.
  9. In the Apply material to Laminate plies dialog, select the Material database radio button.
  10. Select Composite from the list and click Apply material.
  11. For Orientation to 45 degrees.
  12. Create additional plies.
    1. To add Ply 2, click Add ply. For thickness enter 0.6mm and set the material to Composite by repeating steps 8, 9 and 10.
    2. Select Ply 1 and Ply 2 and copy and paste to add more plies with the same properties as Ply 1 and Ply 2 to the stack.
  13. Rename the copied plies as Ply 3 and Ply 4.
  14. To rearrange the order of the plies, select Ply 4 and use the up arrow or drag and drop to the desired position.
  15. Review Total stack thickness and Approximate stack mass shown at the bottom of the dialog.
  16. Click OK to create the laminate.
Figure 5.


Review Laminates and Connections

  1. In the Project Tree, expand the assembly. The skins are now identified as a laminates. Expand the laminate folder to view the plies and their properties.
  2. In the Project Tree, expand Connections > Precise connections.
    Note: Precise connections are automatically created between the plies of the laminate.

Apply Material to Remaining Parts

  1. Right-click on the assembly in the Project Tree, and then select Show ➔ Parts without material.
    The parts without material are isolated in the modeling window.
  2. Select the parts by click and drag selection in the modeling window.
  3. On the Assembly workbench, click Apply materials.
  4. Ensure the radio button for Current project is selected.
  5. Select Aluminum and click Apply to selected parts.
  6. Click Close.
  7. Press A to show all parts in the modeling window.

Create Connections

  1. On the Connections workbench, click Automatic connections .
  2. Set the default Gap and Penetration tolerances to 1mm.
  3. Ensure the resolution is set to Normal.
  4. Click OK to create connections.

Create Structural Analysis

  1. On the main window toolbar, click Structural Analysis > Structural Linear.
  2. In the Analysis Workbench, click Immovable Support .
  3. In the dialog, verify the Faces radio button is selected.
  4. In the modeling window, select faces from all four sides of the skin.
    Figure 6.


  5. Click OK.
  6. In the Analysis Workbench, click Gravity .
  7. Set the Load vector directions to [0,-1,0] and Amplification factor to 5.
  8. Click OK.

Edit Solution Settings

  1. In the Analysis branch of the Project Tree, double-click on Solution settings: for Structural 1.
  2. In the Solution settings dialog, for Adaptation select Global+Local in the drop-down menu.
  3. Click OK.

Run Analysis

  1. On the Project Tree, open the Analysis Workbench.
  2. Click Solve.
SimSolid runs the analyses in Design study 1. When finished, a Results branch for each analysis appears in the Project Tree.

Review Results

  1. On the Analysis Workbench toolbar, click Results plot.
  2. Select Displacement Magnitude.