Defining butt joints

When inflating 2D elements across one or more layups, you can use the Search for Butt Joints and Refined String Search options in the Butt Joint Options dialog box to define when the software creates a butt joint. Depending on the options you choose, the software compares the ply descriptions and creates a butt joint where it finds a match.

• If you clear the Search for Butt Joints check box, the software does not create a butt joint between the adjacent plies.

• If you select the Search for Butt Joints and Refined String Search check boxes, the software creates a butt joint between two adjacent plies when their descriptions are exactly the same.

• If you select the Search for Butt Joints check box, and clear the Refined String Search check box, the software creates a butt joint between two adjacent plies when the first integer in the ply description strings match. The following four examples show instances where the first integers in the ply descriptions match:Example: Example 1Example 2Example 3****Example 4Description of first ply1111_1This ply is used for butt joint 2P3: this ply is 3 cm longDescription of second ply1111_2This ply is used for butt joint 2P3: this ply is 5 cm long

For the software to create a butt joint, the following conditions must also be met:

• The plies are on the same layer.

• The draping domains of the two plies touch but do not overlap.

• Plies that are between butting plies cannot intersect both butting plies.Example: In the following example, the software can create a butt joint between ply p1 and ply p4 because there is no intersection.In the following example, the software does not create a butt joint between ply p1 and ply p5 because plies p2, p3, and p4 intersect both ply p1 and ply p5.

Example:

In the following example, five plies are draped over five meshed polygon faces:

	Ply p1	Ply p2	Ply p3	Ply p4	Ply p5
Ply description	1_1	1_2	1_3	ply 1_3	ply 1_3
Draped on face	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)

When inflating 2D elements, the software creates butt joints between adjacent plies depending on the butt joint options you selected:

Extrude the 2D elements on faces	Search for Butt Joints	Search for Butt Joints	Butt joint
(1) and (2)			Yes
(2) and (3)			No
(3) and (4)			No
(4) and (5)			Yes

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM as the work and displayed part

Defining ply descriptions

Command Finder	Global Layup
Simulation Navigator	Right-click the Layups node→New LayupRight-click a layup node→Edit
Location in dialog box	Layup Definition group→Description

Defining butt joint options

Simulation Navigator	Right-click the layups node→Butt Joint Options
Location in dialog box	Search for Butt Joints and Refined String Search

How do I

Extrude a 2D laminate to 3D

Create a sandwich structure

Create a 3D laminate between 2D dependent meshes

Create a butt joint

Learn more

Inflating laminates

Extrude Laminate

Fill Laminate

Look up more details

Right-click commands for laminate inflation nodes

Material orientation and laminate inflation

Inflated mesh color

Element type support for laminates

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Defining butt joints, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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