Curing thermoset material (Simcenter Samcef Structure)

You can use curing thermoset material to model the mechanical behavior of a unidirectional (UD) composite structure (or one UD ply) while the matrix is undergoing a curing reaction (thermoset resin).

The mechanical behavior of this material evolves with the temperature and the curing reaction, which is characterized by the Degree of Cure (or degree of conversion X) load.

Two other parameters influence the behavior of the curing material:

• Gel Point (XGel) option on the Matrix page and the

• Glass Transition Temperature (TG) load type.

As the Degree of Cure increases, the material passes through three states:

1. The liquid state, a long as X ≤ XGel.

2. The rubbery state, as long as X > XGel but the temperature (T) > TG.

3. The glassy state, as long as X > XGel but T ≤ TG.

To view the curing material properties, choose Home tab→Manage Materials . From the Property View list, select Samcef Curing Structure to display only the properties of the Simcenter Samcef structural thermoset material.

Defining visco-elastic properties for the matrix

On the Matrix page, you define the matrix material properties.

You define the classic Young Modulus, Poisson ratio (major or minor), or CTE coefficients.

You also define the Chemically-Induced Shrinkage (CSC) coefficients.

Note:

All these properties can be constant, or they can be dependent on the Temperature, the Glass Transition Temperature, the Degree of Cure, or a combination of these dependencies.

You also define the Gel Point, the Weighting Factor, the Relaxation Time, or the Time Shift Factor.

Note:

All these properties are constant except for the Weighting Factor, the Relaxation Time, and the Time Shift Factor properties that can also depend on the temperature.

Defining the fiber properties

On the Fibers page, you define the Young's modulus (longitudinal and transverse) and in-plane shear modulus, Poisson's ratio (major or minor), the longitudinal and transverse CTE coefficients, and the Fibers Volume Fraction.

Note:

The Fibers Volume Fraction is constant. All other properties can be constant, or they can be defined with a temperature dependent field.

Homogenization of the material composite properties

Elastic properties defined for the matrix and the fibers are automatically homogenized by the Simcenter Samcef solver. As transverse isotropy is assumed, this automatic homogenization is valid for unidirectional systems.

The homogenization process applies on the Young's and shear moduli, as well as on the CTE and CSC coefficients. For the CTE and CSC coefficients, you can select the Mixture Law or the Rosen Hashin Model on the Composite page.

However, for the CTE and CSC coefficients, you can also define your own homogenized values on the Composite page.

Defining your own homogenized CTE and CSC coefficients

On the Composite page, you can define your own homogenized CTE and CSC coefficients by selecting Homogenized Properties from the Thermal Expansion Homogenization Method or Chemical Properties Method lists.

You define three orthotropic CTE and three orthotropic CSC parameters. For each of them, you define one value for the Glassy state, one for the Rubbery state, and one for the Liquid state.

Note:

The CTE and CSC properties can be constant, or they can be dependent on the Temperature, the Glass Transition Temperature, the Degree of Cure, or a combination of these dependencies.

A .MAT BEHAV "THERSET" entry is output in the Simcenter Samcef input file.

For more information, see the curing thermoset material page in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	Simcenter Samcef as the selected solver
Command Finder	Manage Materials
Location in dialog box	Type list→Curing→Create Material Property View list→Samcef Curing Structure

Look up more details

Curing Material dialog box (Simcenter Samcef)

Curing thermoset material (Simcenter Samcef Structure), Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

© 2020 Siemens

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