How to set up a composite structure (like a monocoque) to be simulated on Ansys.

Note: ACP (Pre) is a Component System (it only sets up up your model with composite properties), it does not perform any simulations! Simulations are done with Analysis Systems (Static Structural, Explicit Dynamics)

Instructions

1 . Drag a ACP (Pre) Component System onto your project schematic

2. Open Engineering Data and add your weave, core, and other material data

If you are adding your own composite materials, ensure both your weave and core have the following properties:

Orthotropic Elasticity
Orthotropic Stress
Density
Ply Type
Tsai-Wu Constants

There is also sample materials in the Engineering Data Sources you can use

3. Import your Geometry, it should be a surface model (i.e. your composite model is made from surfaces)

4. Right click Model and Edit it

5. Apply a thickness to the surface body (doesn't matter how thick it is, composite material properties will overrun it later)

6. Generate a mesh and refine it as needed

7. Return to the workbench and update the project

8. Enter Setup

9. Under Material Data, right click Fabrics and Create Fabric

Choose your weave and set the thickness

Create another fabric with your core material

10. Change your Units on the top toolbar to mm

11. Under Material Data, right click Stackups and Create Stackup

In the photo, this stackup will have 2 layers of weave, then a core, then another 2 layers of weave because Odd Symmetry is selected.

12. Right click Rosettes and create a new Rosette

Click on the origin coordinates, then click anywhere on the model to place your rosette, preferably somewhere flat and open

Note: A rosette is a reference axis, used later on to direct which direction your weave is going

13. Right click on Oriented Selection Sets and create a new Oriented Selection Set

Click on the Element Sets text box, then click All_Elements under Element Sets

Note: All_Elements will select the entire body, if you want to apply different stackups to different areas on the body, you need to create Named Selections in Geometry beforehand (Google "Ansys Named Selections" for more info)

Click on the Point text box, then click anywhere on the model to place your direction point

Click on the Rosette text box, then click on your Rosette

In the photo, the blue arrow is the direction of your weave

14. Right click Modeling Groups and create a Modeling Group

Right click your newly created Modeling Group and Create Ply

Select your Oriented Selection Set and Stackup as your material

15. Update your model

16. Check your weave directions

Click on Show Fibre Directions (Green arrow icon)

Click through your Modeling Ply layers

17. Return to the workbench and update the project

18. Drag an Analysis System to your project schematic, then drag the ACP (Pre) Setup onto your Analysis System Model.

You are now ready to perform simulations on your model.

Here are some videos / tutorials that go more in depth

SimCafe Tutorial:

https://confluence.cornell.edu/display/SIMULATION/ANSYS+-+Modal+Analysis+of+a+Composite+Monocoque

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