Mechanical Technology

Composites(Ansys)
Laboratory

Work Integrated Learning Program

WISE Simulation Lab
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani  
Tutorial 1
Modelling of a simple Composite Plate
In this Tutorial we’ll learn how to model a simple Composite Plate using Ansys workbench
(ACP Pre), how to create Ply’s. How we orient the ply fibers at different angles.
Later we’ll import the created composite material to any of the analysis systems, apply boundary
conditions and view results. In order to create composite materials we should model the geometry as a
surface body.
For Simplification the geometry is prepared and kept in the tutorial folder. It Should be imported to
the Geometry folder of the System.
•
Ply Material: Epoxy Carbon UD
(230 GPa) Prepreg
•
Ply Thickness : 1 mm
•
Number of ply's Stacked: 5.
•
Ply Angle : 0 degree
Boundary Conditions For Static
Structural Analysis Ply of Thickness 1mm
•
Fixed Support : Two bottom Edges
•
Pressure : Top face 30 MPa
Ansys Workbench Layout
Tool Bar

Ansys
Toolbox Project Schematic Window

Messages Window
Setting the Units for the Project
•
In the toolbar, Click on
Units, Select the SI System
of units.
Starting the Project
•
In the Toolbox, Under the
Component Systems Press hold
ACP(Pre) and drag it to the the
Project Schematic window,
•
Now we can see the ACP(Pre)
component systems on the project
schematic window as shown.

Please not there will be no tick

marks when the project is started,
they appear only after completion of
all the steps in different folders.
Adding the Material Data
•
In the newly created project,
Double Click on the Engineering
Data to Assign Materials.
•
Click on Engineering Data Sources
•
In the Engineering Data Sources,
Scroll down to find Composite
Materials,
•
Click on Composite Materials
•
In the Outline of Composite
Materials, Look for Epoxy Carbon
UD (230 GPa) Prepeg.

•
Click on the '+' next to the
Material, when + is clicked that
material will be added to the
database.

•
Close the Enginering Data from the
toolbar as shown in the figure.
Import the Geometry
•
Select Geometry Right Click 
Import Geometry Browse

•
Go to tutorial1 folder, select the
Plate file which is placed in the
folder.

•
Now the geometry will be
imported.
Meshing the Composite materials
•
Double Click on the Model, so the
Mechanical window will open
•
In the Outline Window, Select
the, Surface Body
•
In the Details Window, Find
Thickness and Enter 1 mm as
thickness.

•
In the Details Window, Scroll
down to Material
•
In the Assignment Select the
Epoxy Carbon UD 230
•
In the Outline Window, select
Mesh right click Sizing
•
Under the Mesh the Sizing will be
added.
•
Select the Sizing, In the Details
Window
•
Click on Geometry, Select the
Body in the Graphics window
•
To Select the Body, use Body
Selection Filter from the Toolbar
•
Click Apply after selection
•
Enter 2mm for Element Size
•
Mesh Right Click  Update

•
The Meshed Model look as shown
in the Figure
 Selecting the unit system for ACP Setup
•
Right click on Model
Select Properties
•
Select Length units as
mm as shown
Creating Composites
•
Double Click On Setup to open the
ACP-Pre Window
•
Click on Toggle Mesh Elements to
see Mesh elements
•
In the ACP-Pre outline tree, Click
on FabricRight Click Create
fabric
•
A new fabric will be created ,
Double click on the new Fabric1
under Fabric to edit the Fabric
Properties
•
Select the Material as Shown from
the Dropdown
•
Enter thickness as 1mm

•
Click on Analysis and Check E1,
E2 and G12

•
Click Apply
•
Right Click on Oriented Selection
Sets Create Oriented selection
set
•
Double Click On the Newly
Created "OrientedSelectionSet.1"
to edit the Properties
•
In the Orientation Set Properties, In
the General tab, Element Sets
place the Cursor Between the Square
Brackets and Select All Elements
from the ACP-Pre Tree

•
In the Points Select Any point
randomly from the Graphic Window
•
In the Rosettes , Place the Cursor
between brackets and Select the
Rosette from the ACP-Pre Tree

•
Click Apply
•
In the ACP Tree , Right Click on
the Modeling Groups Create
Modeling Group
•
A new Modeling Group will be
Created under the modeling groups
•
Select the Newly Created Modeling
Group  Right Click  Create
Ply
•
When Create ply is Selected, we'll get
the Modeling Ply Property Window
•
In the General Tab, for Oriented
Selection Sets, place the cursor
between the Brackets and Select the
"OrientedSelectionSet.1"

•
For ply Material Select Fabric.1 from
dropdown
•
Keep the ply angle to be 0
•
Number of layers = 1
•
Click Apply
•
Select the Modeling ply.1  right
Click  Copy
•
Select the Modeling ply.1  right
Click Paste After (paste 4 times
so that there are 5 Modeling ply)
•
In the ACP-Pre tree, Select Solid
Model Right Click Create
Solid Model

•
Select the Newly Created
SolidModel.1 Right Click 
Update

•
Now We can see the Solid Model
with 5 layers in the Graphic
Window
•
Right Click on Setup and Update
Starting analysis with Composite Material
•
After Updating the Setup, Select
Static Structural from the Analysis
System to the Project Window.

•
Press Hold Setup of Ansys Pre and
drag it to the Model of Static
Structural,
•
Select Transfer Solid Composite
Data

•
Then the network looks as shown
Setting up analysis Boundary conditions
•
Double Click On the Model of Static
Structural
•
This will open the mechanical window,
•
We can see the Mesh and Plies are
imported
•
The material Data, mesh Data,
everything will be imported, we
only have to assign the Boundary
Conditions for analysis
•
Right Click on Static Structural
Insert Fixed Support
•
In the Details Of Fixed Support
Click on Geometry,
•
In the tool bar, select Edge
Selection Filter.
•
Select the two bottom edges (use
Ctrl to select multiple edges) and
click Apply
•
Right Click on Static Structural
Insert Pressure

•
In the Details Of Pressure window,
Select Geometry in the graphic
Window Select the Top face and
Click Apply
•
Enter Magnitude = 30 MPa
•
After Adding the boundary
Conditions, we shall add the
Results Parameters under Solution
•
Solution right click
Deformation Total Deformation
•
Solution right click Stress
Equivalent (von-mises)
•
Solution right click Stress
Equivalent (von-mises)
•
In Details of Equivalent Stress
change Subscope By  Layer
from dropdown
•
In Details of Equivalent Strain
change Subscope By  Layer
from dropdown
•
Select Solution right click 
Solve

•
Wait for the Simulation to complete
Results
•
Click on Total Deformation
note down the maximum
value:
Max Deformation: 16.95 mm

•
Click on Graph And Click on
Animate to View the
Animation
•
Click on Equivalent Stress
note down the maximum value:
Max Stress 16409 MPa
•
Click on Equivalent Strain
note down the maximum value:
Max Strain: 0.30289 mm
Saving the Project File
•
In the Workbench Window, Click
on File  Click Save As
•
And save it in the required
directory giving the suitable name
Contact us if you have any queries

Work Integrated Learning Program

WISE Simulation Lab
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani  

Email : wise@wilp.bits-pilani.ac.in
Text @ Hangout : wise@wilp.bits-pilani.ac.in