Creating zones

A zone is a set of elements that share the same laminate physical property.

• In zone-based modeling using the laminate physical property process, you define the zones from element collectors.

• In ply-based modeling, the software computes the zones using the global layups, ply draping definitions, and the zone angle tolerance.

Zones are also computed both for 2D and 3D laminates. The 3D zone nodes are useful with inflated models because they allow you to view the plies that are assigned to the inflated elements.

Zone nodes appear in the Simulation Navigator.

Zones
Laminate 1
Zone 1 (9 elements)
Zone 2 (9 elements)
Laminate 1 – Extrusion
Zone 1 (9 elements)
Zone 2 (9 elements)
Zone 3 (9 elements)
Zone 4 (9 elements)
Zone 5 (9 elements)

Zones serves as an important validation and diagnostic tool.

When the solver computes zones, the following problematic elements are shown:

• Overlap elements. These are the elements that are referenced by multiple global layups that are not linked. When the draping solver encounters these elements, it issues an error in the Information window and stops computing zones.

• Orphan elements. These are the elements that have a laminate physical property that you set on the mesh collector using the Inherited from layup option. The elements do not have a defined ply. When the draping solver encounters these elements, it issues an error in the Information window and computes zones for other elements.

	— Overlap elements — Orphan elements

Zone angle tolerance

The Compute Zones command creates zones for each active global layup in the FEM and for all the collectors with laminate physical properties. For each global ply in each active global layup, the zone algorithm computes, the difference between the fiber orientation of the ply on an element and the fiber orientation of the same global ply on the neighboring elements. If the absolute value of the differences in the fiber orientation is less than the zone angle tolerance for every ply, the two adjacent elements are part of the same zone.

Because all the elements in a zone share the same layup and fiber orientations within the specified zone angle tolerance, they share the same laminate physical property.

You define the zone angle tolerance for the laminate physical property in the Zone Angle Tolerance box in the Laminate Properties group of the Laminate Modeler dialog box, the Default Draping Parameters group of the Orthotropic Material dialog box, or the Basic Information group of the Laminate Ply Material dialog box. The Stacking Recipe must be set to Inherited from layup. A large zone angle tolerance produces relatively few zones, whereas a small zone angle tolerance produces relatively more zones.

If the draped fiber orientation varies significantly within a face, the software creates more zones for a given zone angle tolerance.

Note:

If the unidirectional draping solver option selected in the Draping Data dialog box for meshes on developable surfaces, the zone angle tolerance has no effect on zone creation.

Zones with sheared woven plies

When you enable the improved woven model, the software:

• Considers the warp fiber direction and the yarn angle when computing zone boundaries.

• Determines the resolution to create zones and the equivalent anisotropic properties using the zone angle tolerance you define in the woven type Laminate Ply Material dialog box or the Laminate tab of the Orthotropic Material dialog box.

The software displays the yarn angle in the View Laminates dialog box.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM as the work part
Command Finder	Update Global Layups and Zones
Simulation Navigator	Right-click the zone node→Compute Zones

How do I

View laminate physical properties in the FEM file

View laminate physical properties for a selected element in post processing

Learn more

Zone-based physical properties and element groups

Laminate definition for a selected face or element

Laminate annotation

Element color basis by laminate zone

Look up more details

Right-click commands for the zone nodes

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Creating zones, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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