Define draping data for global plies

1. Open the Draping Data dialog box in one of these ways:In the Layup Modeler dialog box, select a ply and click Define Draping Input.In the Simulation Navigator, right-click a global ply node and choose Edit.

2. In the Draping Parameters group, from the Solver list, select one of the following solvers:Select Woven if you want to simulate a woven fabric.Select Unidirectional if you want to simulate a unidirectional fabric.Select Projection if you want to ignore fiber distortion.Select Inherited from Material if you are using a Simcenter 3D orthotropic material with defined laminate properties. You must have chosen a draping solver while defining the material default draping properties on the Laminate tab of the Orthotropic Material dialog box.

3. (Optional) In the Lock Angle box, modify the lock angle for the woven or unidirectional solver types.

4. From the Draping Path list, select the method to define the primary direction for the woven or unidirectional solver types.

5. Select Select 2D Objects.

6. In the graphics window, select one or more polygon faces or 2D meshes on which you want to drape the plies.For the woven and unidirectional draping solvers, the faces must be contiguous. For the projection draping solver, the faces do not need to be contiguous. For all draping solvers, the element normals must point in the same direction.Tip: You can use the Selection Intent options on the Top Border bar to quickly select multiple related faces.

7. (Optional) Define cut curves for the woven or unidirectional solver types.Select Select Cuts.In the graphics window, select one or more polygon edges or element edges that you want to define as a discontinuity in the fiber orientation.Fiber orientation on the two sides of the cut curve can change abruptly to model a dart in the fabric.

8. In the Ply Directions group, under Primary Direction, select Start Point.For the projection solver type, this is only required if you intend to extend the ply into another layup, and wish to fix its normal direction at the start point location.

9. In the graphics window, select a point or node in your model to designate it as the starting point for fiber orientation calculations.For the woven or unidirectional solver types, if you selected Seed Curve from the Draping Path list, the start point must lie on the seed curve.

10. For the woven or unidirectional solver types, define the primary direction using a vector, a coordinate system, or a seed curve depending on the option you selected from the Draping Path list in step 4.If you selected Geodesic from the Draping Path list, follow the steps in the Define primary direction using a vector or a coordinate system procedure.If you selected Seed Curve from the Draping Path list, follow the steps in the Define primary direction using a seed curve procedure.

11. (Optional) For the projection solver type, define the primary direction using the material orientation vector or a coordinate system.The material orientation vector queries the material orientation’s X-axis direction as the 0 degree direction for the ply. If you select a coordinate system, the system X-axis defines the 0 degree direction of the ply.

12. (Optional) Change the draping mesh size in one of the following ways for the woven or unidirectional solver types:Move the Percentage of Mesh Size slider to define the draping element size as a percentage of 2D mesh element size.Specify the draping element size as follows:Select the Specify Element Size check box.In the Element Size box, type the draping element size in units of length.

13. Click OK.

Define primary direction using a vector or a coordinate system

This example shows how to define a fiber directions using the vector method. To define the directions using a coordinate system, from the Direction Option list, select CSYS and specify the coordinate system that you want to use.

If you selected the woven solver type, you must also define the secondary direction.

1. In the Ply Directions group, under Primary Direction, from the Direction Option list, select Vector.

2. Select Primary Alignment, then define a vector.The vector specifies the fiber orientation at the start point for a unidirectional fabric, or the warp orientation at the start point for a woven fabric.

3. (Optional) Click Reverse Direction to rotate the Primary Alignment vector by 180°.

4. For the woven solver type only, under Secondary Direction, define the weft orientation at the start point in one of the following ways:From the Secondary Alignment list, select Use default if you want the weft orientation to depend on how you define the material of the ply.From the Secondary Alignment list, select Specify if you want to define a vector to specify the weft orientation.

5. (Optional) Click Reverse Direction to rotate the Secondary Alignment 180°.This option is available if you defined a vector to specify the weft orientation.

Define primary direction using a seed curve

1. In the Ply Directions group, under Primary Direction, select Select Seed Curves.

2. In the graphics window, select polygon edges and element edges to construct one continuous seed curve.

How do I

Compute draping and flat patterns

Map draped fiber orientation to material orientation

View ply fiber orientation

Change the color spectrum for the fiber orientation display

Export draping results

Learn more

Fiber orientation

List draping results

Checking and orienting the normals of 2D elements

Ply-based workflow

Defining plies and a stacking sequence

Look up more details

Draping solvers

Fiber alignment methods

Developable and undevelopable surfaces

Draping solver feedback

Computing draped fiber orientation and flat patterns

Right-click commands for global layup nodes

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

Define draping data for global plies, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

© 2020 Siemens

window.mainLanguage="en_US"

window.delivId=""

window.projectId=""

MathJax.Hub.Config({ TeX: { extensions: ["autoload-all.js"] }, tex2jax: { displayMath: [ ] }, "SVG": { scale: 125 } });