Working with imported layups

Use the following commands to import plies onto selected polygon faces or 2D elements of your model:

Import Fibersim Layup

Imports plies of a Fibersim ply-based laminate.

Import CATIA Layup

Imports plies from a CATIA laminate or a .layup file.

To re-import a layup, use the Reimport Layup command. The imported layup and its plies are accessible through the Simulation Navigator. With the exception of the View Flat Patterns command, you can access the same commands for an imported layup as for any other layup. You can also define and edit the ply import options and re-import one or more selected plies using the Edit Ply Import Options and Reimport Ply commands.

Supported files

Using the Import Fibersim Layup command, you can import one of the following types of files:

Fibersim XML layup files (.xml)

Imports the layup from a Fibersim CEE XML file.

Fibersim HDF5 layup files (.h5)

Imports the layup from a Fibersim CEE HDF5 file.

Current Fibersim Part

Imports the layup from the part that contains Fibersim data.

Using the Import CATIA Layup command, you can import one of the following types of files:

Layup files (.layup)

Imports ply definitions that are saved in the .layup format used by CATIA, Patran Laminate Modeler, and Laminate Tools.

CATIA Ply Groups (.xml)

Imports the layup from an XML file that contains CATIA ply groups.

The software stores the ply name in the Description column in the Layup Modeler dialog box. In general, the name format is: [Ply ID]_[Splice ID]. When two coplanar and contiguous plies have the same [Ply ID] integer number in the Description cell, during 3D inflation, the software creates a butt joint.

Partially mapped faces

You can use the Fill Partially Mapped Faces and Omit Partially Mapped Faces options, individually or together, to fill holes in the ply mappings and avoid spillover when the FEM contains meshed polygon faces. The software first fills holes and then excludes any remaining partially mapped faces. To ensure that the software maps all imported plies to polygon face boundaries, select a combinations of the fill and omit partially mapped faces options with threshold values that sum to 100%.

Example:

The following settings combine aggressive hole filling with aggressive spillover removal:

• Unmapped Face Threshold (%) for Fill Partially Mapped Faces: 90%

• Unmapped Face Threshold (%) for Omit Partially Mapped Faces: 10%

The following settings combine minimal hole filling with aggressive spillover removal which is suitable when a large search distance is specified:

• Unmapped Face Threshold (%) for Fill Partially Mapped Faces: 20%

• Unmapped Face Threshold (%) for Omit Partially Mapped Faces: 10%

Mapping the imported layup elements to 2D elements

The imported layup must have been created with the same part geometry that is meshed in this software.

The ply information is stored on triangular or quadrilateral elements in the external file. When the layup is imported, the software locates each selected 2D element in a Fibersim or CATIA ply triangular mesh element, using the specified tolerance value. By default, the software calculates this tolerance value as the averaged meshed element length.

When you import a ***.layup** file, you can modify the import setting search angle that determines if the imported ply is mapped to the FEM element. The software imports the rosettes and nominal ply orientations so that you can switch the draping solver type from imported to projection for one ply or all plies at once.

To accelerate the import of flat plies with constant fiber orientations, you can specify one seed element. Instead of looping over all the selected FEM elements, the software assigns them all the imported ply data that is mapped to the seed element.

Instead of mapping at the element centroid locations, you can request mapping at the element node locations, and specify either of the following conditions:

• All nodes of a given element must belong to the imported ply. This option maps fewer elements near a ply boundary.

• At least one node of a given element must belong to the imported ply. This option maps more elements near a ply boundary.

The software creates a group of unmapped elements for those elements that have no mapped ply data.

Groups
1 - Unmapped Elements

Exposing Fibersim Meshes

You can view the Fibersim ply meshes defined in the Fibersim HDF5 layup file by assigning a file path and name to the UGII_LAMINATE_EXPORT_MESHES environment variable, and importing the mesh file to a Simcenter Nastran FEM. For example, UGII_LAMINATE_EXPORT_MESHES=[file_path]\file_name.dat.

The Simcenter Nastran formatted file contains the triangular 2D meshes for each imported ply, and the associated nodes and comment cards. When the file is imported to a Simcenter Nastran FEM, you can view the ply meshes in the graphics window.

Mapping imported layup and Pre/Post materials

Because the Fibersim XML file contains Fibersim material names for each ply, but does not contain the material properties, the software does one of the following:

• If the name of the Fibersim material matches the name of an existing Pre/Post material or Ply Material, the existing material is referenced by the imported ply. The name of the material is displayed in the Composition column in the Layup Modeler dialog box.

• If the name of the Fibersim material does not match the name of any Pre/Post material or Ply Material, the imported ply does not have a material defined. The following message is displayed in the Information window:Cannot find material ***. It will need to be defined manually.If the material is not defined for one or more plies, you can compute zones, but you cannot solve the model.You must manually assign materials for these plies in the Layup Modeler dialog box.

Because the Fibersim HDF5 file contains both the Fibersim material names and their properties, you must specify what the software should do with the Fibersim materials during the import.

• If you want the software to import Fibersim materials along with their properties, select the Import Materials check box. The software assigns FIBERSIM to the material Category.

• If you want the software to override existing Fibersim materials, select the Overwrite Materials check box.

• If you want the software to behave in the same way as for the Fibersim XML file import, clear the Import Materials check box.

For more information on imported material properties from the Fibersim HDF5 layup file, see Supported Fibersim material properties.

Assumptions and limitations

• You can import Fibersim cores. All core types are supported, except for modeled cores. The core thickness is assumed constant and is retreived from the core material.

• The software assumes that the draping of all plies starts from the same face or mold line.

• The coordinate system stored in the imported file must be the same as the absolute coordinate system used in Simcenter 3D. When you create a Fibersim file using the Fibersim application in Simcenter 3D, the Simcenter 3D absolute coordinate system is used by default.

• The units stored in the imported file must be the same as the FEM units.

• From Fibersim HDF5 files, this software reads the material property units and converts them to the FEM units.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisites	A FEM file as the work part and displayed part
Command Finder	(To import plies of a Fibersim laminate) Import Fibersim Layup (To import plies from a CATIA laminate or a .layup file) Import CATIA Layup
Simulation Navigator	Right-click an imported layup node→Reimport LayupRight-click one or more imported ply nodes→Edit Ply Import Options or Reimport Ply

How do I

Import a layup from a laminate physical property

Create a global layup

Create ply extensions

Import a layup

Create a ply section and its section curves

Learn more

Creating a global layup

Creating global plies

Working with global plies and global ply groups

Cohesive layers

Exporting the global layup to Fibersim

Draping global plies over the model

Layup offset

Creating ply sections and section curves

Ply-based workflow

Defining plies and a stacking sequence

Look up more details

Global layups and hand layup manufacturing

Ply extensions

Supported Fibersim material properties

Conditions to import from Fibersim

Importing CATIA ply group algorithm

Right-click commands for ply section nodes

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

Working with imported layups, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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