Defining the Composites Parameters

This task shows you how to add materials to your Composites part and how to edit their parameters:

In pre-R18 models:

  • Zones are linked, via the Laminate, to materials inside a CATMaterial.
    If the CATMaterial is not available, the zone laminate is KO and the following cannot be created:
    • Plies from zones,
    • Solid/top surface from zones.
  • Each ply is linked to a material inside the CATMaterial
    if the CATMaterial is not available, the ply is KO and the following cannot be created:
    • Solid from plies
    • Exploded surfaces
    • Producibility/ Flatten
    • etc.

In short, nothing can be done with a Composites CATPart if the corresponding CATMaterial is not available, which causes numerous issues especially when sending models to a partner for example.
Starting with R18, you can define the Composites Parameters by selecting only the required materials from one or several catalogs, instead of selecting a whole material catalog. This enables the Composites Parameters to store a list of material cache features that will each have:

  • a list of knowledgeware parameters corresponding to the material properties needed to update the CATPart even if the material catalog is not available,
  • a link to the corresponding material in a material catalog.

Please note:

  • that not all material parameters are stored in the Composites Parameters.
    This means that a FEA analysis cannot be performed if the catalog is not available.
  • The materials proposed in the commands defining zones and plies are only those defined in the Composites Parameters.
  • Instead of having an applied material like in previous releases, the ply will only a point to the corresponding material cache available in the composites parameters.
    You can no longer apply a material at a ply level.
    Replacing a material in all plies will be done through the rerouting of the material link.
  • The laminate feature of zones will no longer point to the materials in the CATMaterial like in previous releases.
    It will now directly point to the Composites materials stored under the Composites Parameters. This will be transparent for the user.
  • Pre-R18 models need to be updated.
  • You can define a material as NCF.
Available in Composites Engineering Design (CPE) and Composites Design for Manufacturing (CPM).
Open the Parameters1.CATPart document

Adding Materials

  1. Click Composites Parameters .
    The Composites Parameters dialog box is displayed.

  2. Click Add Materials. The Materials dialog box is displayed:

    Click ... and use the File Selection box to select a catalog of materials. The Materials dialog box is updated with the list of the materials contained in this catalog.
    The drop-down list allows you to filter the materials by family. By default it is set to All Families.
    Select the materials (at least one) you want to use (multi-selection is available) and click OK.

    You can repeat this step with another material catalog to select more materials.

  3. The Composites Parameters dialog box is updated.

    All columns, as well as the dialog box, are resizable, e.g.:

    Those columns list the material properties needed to update the CATPart:

    Material ID stands for Material ID
    Material name stands for the Material Name
    Material type stands for Type of the material
    (Uni-directional, Bi-Directional, Non-Structural)
    Cur... stands for Cured Thickness (mm)
    Unc... stands for Uncured Thickness (mm)
    Wid... stands for Width (mm)
    Wa... stands for Warn Angle (deg)
    Limi... stands for Limit Angle (deg)
    Sur... stands for Surfacic mass (kg_m2)
The parameters listed above are read from the material. If those parameters are not visible, it indicates that the material link is broken.
 

  1. Use the Up and Down arrow to change the order of the materials in the table (and in commands defining zones and plies).

  2. The name of materials can be very long. They are displayed in the Material Name field, that cannot be edited. You can give the material a shorter name in the Material ID field.

  3. In the Direction field, you can enter a new fiber direction to add to the existing list.
    Enter the name, the value and the color of the direction, then click Add.
    Use the Up and Down arrows to change the order of the direction values, and Remove to remove a value.

  4. Click OK. The material cache features are stored under the Composites Parameters node:
  • A contextual menu is available on the material cache features:  

     
  • You can edit the Composites Parameters and add new materials even after zones and plies have been created.
  • Note that the ply points to the material cache feature stored in the Composites Parameters.

Adding a Range to Material Properties

Some parameters may vary due to the manufacturing process, e.g. the cured thickness depends on the pressure applied during molding. To take those variations into account, it is necessary to have not only a value to represent the nominal material parameter but also a range of acceptable values.

Adding a Range in the Material Catalog

  1. In the material catalog, right-click the material and select Properties in the contextual menu.

  2. In the Composites tab, right-click the value field of the parameter and select Add Range:

  3. The Range dialog box is displayed.

    Select the required options and edit the values that appear.

    Click OK in the Range dialog box and OK in the Properties dialog box.
Once a range has been added, you can suppress it or edit it using the contextual menu:
 

Adding a Range in the Material Feature

  1. When you add a material in the Composites Parameters, this material feature is stored under the Materials used node.
    Right-click the parameter for which you want to create a range and select Definition in its contextual menu.

     

  2. The Edit Parameter dialog box is displayed.
    Right-click the value field and select Add Range in its contextual menu:

  3. The Range dialog box is displayed.

    Select the required options and edit the values that appear.

    Click OK to validate and exit the dialog box.
  • This range modification is local. It applies to the Composites part you are working in, not to the material catalog from which you have added materials.
  • If you synchronize the cache materials stored under Materials used with materials from a catalog, the nominal values and ranges that you may have modified locally will be erased and replaced by those of the catalog. Parameters will be reset to their locked status.
  • Once a range has been added, you can suppress it or edit it using the contextual menu:
 

Using the Range

  1. When you add a material in the Composites Parameters, this material feature is stored under the Materials used node.
    By default, the parameters of the material are locked and cannot be edited:

    Right-click the parameter you want to edit and select Unlock in its contextual menu:

    The lock on the parameter is removed.

  2. Right-click the parameter again and select Definition. You can now change the value of the parameter:

    Key-in a value within the range you have defined in the catalog.
    If you enter a value that is not within this range, an error message will be displayed.
    Click OK to validate and exit the dialog box.
Depending on values used for the parameter, the spinner may be de-activated, e.g. in the case above, as the spinner step is 1mm, using the spinner would lead to errors. In those cases, key-in the required values.
  • This modified value is local to the Composites part and will be used for the whole Composites part, i.e. you cannot apply a different value to different plies.
  • If you synchronize the cache materials stored under Materials used with materials from a catalog, the nominal values and ranges that you may have modified locally will be erased and replaced by those of the catalog. Parameters will be reset to their locked status.