Fill Laminate

Use the Fill Laminate command to create 3D ply meshes between a set of 2D dependent meshes.

2D dependent meshes and transparent polygon body

3D ply meshes created between a set of 2D dependent meshes

The global layup must be defined on the master mesh of the 2D dependent meshes.

Note:

Because no global layup refers to the dependent mesh, when you compute zones, you get the following warning in the Information window:

WARNING Found # elements that are not referenced by any layup.

The 3D elements fill the void between the set of 2D dependent meshes, following the paths that are defined by the nodes on the 2D meshes. The software computes the thickness of each layer by taking into account the thickness of the plies of the global layup and the distance between the set of 2D dependent meshes.

Controlling ply thicknesses

When you model inflated laminates, controlling the ply thickness gives you the flexibility to limit the thickness for plies in your laminate due to structural or manufacturing considerations, and to let some plies grow in thickness relative to others, for example, to model a core ply. The specified ply thickness tolerance limits the variation of the ply thickness that you specify in the global layup.

You can set the ply thickness tolerance in one of these ways:

• Use the Limit Thickness Variation option in the Laminate 2D-to-3D Fill dialog box to set the ply thickness tolerance for all plies in the laminate at the same time.

• Use the Override Layup Tolerance option in the Ply Thickness Tolerance dialog box to set a different ply thickness tolerance for a selected ply in the laminate.

Example:

You want to create a 3D laminate by filling the space between two 2D dependent meshes and by controlling the ply thicknesses. The distance between the two meshes is 100 mm on the left side of the model and 75 mm on the right side of the model. The global layup has 5 plies. The ply thickness is 10 mm for plies 1, 2, 4, and 5, and 20 mm for ply 3.

The following table shows two inflated laminates:

• The first one is created without limiting the ply thickness.

• The second one is created by limiting the ply thickness variation to ± 50 % of its original value using the Limit Thickness Variation option. This thickness variation limits the ply thickness values for plies 1, 2, 4, and 5 between 5 mm and 15 mm and for ply 3 between 10 mm and 30 mm.

	Left side of the model		Right side of the model
Regular filled laminate	Ply 5	16.667 mm		Ply 5	12.5 mm
Ply 4	16.667 mm	Ply 4	12.5 mm
Ply 3	33.333 mm	Ply 3	25 mm
Ply 2	16.667 mm	Ply 2	12.5 mm
Ply 1	16.667 mm	Ply 1	12.5 mm
Laminate	100 mm	Laminate	75 mm
Filled laminate with ± 50 % thickness variation	Ply 5	15 mm		Ply 5	12.5 mm
Ply 4	15 mm	Ply 4	12.5 mm
Ply 3	30 mm	Ply 3	25 mm
Ply 2	15 mm	Ply 2	12.5 mm
Ply 1	15 mm	Ply 1	12.5 mm
Laminate	90 mm	Laminate	75 mm

For some the ply thickness tolerance values, the laminate does not completely fill the space between the dependent meshes, as shown by the red selection in the previous graphic. In this case, the software creates a group called Unmatched Target Nodes that contains all the nodes of the target 2D dependent mesh that do not have solid elements attached to them. To completely fill the available space on the left side of the model with the specified ply thickness tolerance, you need to add additional plies to the layup.

Where do I find it?

Laminate 2D-to-3D Fill dialog box

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	You must work in the FEM.
Command Finder	Fill Laminate

Ply Thickness Tolerance dialog box

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	You must work in the FEM.
Simulation Navigator	Right-click a ply node→Edit Ply Thickness Tolerance

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

Defining butt joints

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

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

Fill Laminate, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

© 2020 Siemens

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