ABD Matrix Tutorial

Basic Composite Part Design

CATIA v5: Composite Engineering Design Product
Level: Beginner

Creating Virtual Composite Parts

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Background
g

What you will learn:

How to create a simple composite Laminate using the CATIA v5 Composite
Engineering Design module.
How to gather important engineering information from the model using the
Numerical Analysis function

User Background:
User should have at least 500 hours of Catia experience before attempting
tutorial.

Time for Completion: 1 hour

Tutorial written by Norm Lamar, founder of ABD Matrix.

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 1: Create the Reference Surface

Create a 10 in. square surface (See Figure 1)

Make sure the surface lies in the X
Y plane
X-Y
Create 4 curves; one on each edge of the surface
Now, enter the Composite Design module
Command Sequence: select,

Start
Mechanical Design
Composite Design

You can also use the following macro to gain access: :

g
q
Figure
1. Surface Model of the Square
Plate

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 2: Defining Composite Parameters

Now you will define the composite parameters

Command Sequence: select
select,

You can also use the following macro to

gain
i access :

Figure 2 appears, and now you have the option of

adding, removing or redefining ply angles.
In this exercise the default angles are used.
Note: After you have defined the angles, you will
notice that all the composite-based icons in the menu
bars are no longer grayed out

Figure
g
2. Composite
p
Parameters Dialog
g Box

Model Tree Maturity

Insert
Parameters
Composite Parameters

Optional: Ply angle colors are already defined by

CATIAs default color selection; however, if you want
to change a color of a ply angle, simply highlight the
angle value, then select the menu (shown by red
circle in Figure 2) and select a color of your choice

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 3: Zone Group Definition

You will need to define a Zone Group first

Command Sequence: select
select,

Figure 3. Zone Group Definition Dialog Box

Insert
Preliminary Design
Zones Group

You can also use the following macro to gain

access :

Leave the default name

Select the plates surface to define the geometry
that will be used to build the laminate
Rosette Definition: select the default coordinate
system in the model tree
The Rosette Transfer type remains Cartesian
Your done, select OK

Next, you will defining zones within the zone group you
just created. Please take note of your Model Tree.
Model Tree Maturity

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 4: Zone Geometry and Laminate Definition

Zones Geometry Definition

Command Sequence: select,

You can also use the following macro to gain access :

Select
S
l
the
h curves create previously
i
l to d
define
fi C
Contour.1.
1
The name Sketch.1 should appear

Figure 5. Zone Geometry Definition

Insert
Preliminary Design
Create Zone

Important: select the curves in a sequential order

Now, select the laminate tab (Located in red circle)

Select the material menu and select Glass
A row will appear showing the Glass material
Now you will define the number of plies per angle. For
this example, enter 2 plies per angle by placing your
cursor under the corresponding column, then double
click. A box should appear allowing you to enter the total
number of plies.
Click Ok. Evaluate the Model Tree to see changes

2
1
Example
p of curve selection: note sequence
q

Z
Zone.1
1

Important: Make sure the name Zone 1 appears in the Catia model; if not, then
you have not defined the zone correctly. Go back and check to make sure that
you selected the curves in the correct order.
Figure 6. Zone Laminate Definition

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 4b: Model Tree Maturityy Check

Your model tree should appear similar to the one shown

You can, at any time, modify these parameters by simply
right-clicking on an item that you wish to modify

Your laminate definition will appear when you

have correctlyy defined the zone

Results from input shown in Figure 6, on page 6

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 5: Creating
g Plies from a Zone

You have developed enough information to create your

first Laminate. In this case, 8 plies of glass, oriented
using the definition found in section 4
4.
Next, you will create plies from the zone
Command Sequence: select,

Insert
Plies
Plies Creation from Zones

You can also use the following macro to gain access :

Create plies in new group should be pre-selected; if not,
depress the button
If it isnt already,
y Deselect Create p
plies without stagger;
gg it
will not be used for this exercise
Your done with dialog box manipulation, select OK

Note: Stacking information will appear in the model tree. Look

for 8 sequences and a newly created geometrical set
set.
See next page for model tree details
Figure 7. Plies Creation Dialog Box

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 5b: Stacking Information

Using Sequence.1 as an example, we can see how Catia

constructs the composite part.
In this case,
case Ply
Ply.1
1 is made from glass,
glass has a zero
zero-degree
degree
orientation and is defined geometrically by Contour.7; which
is a derivative of the previously defined Contour.6
The subsequent Sequences shown are built the same way

The newly created Geometrical Set.2

holds the 8 curves needed to build each
ply in the sequences. They are created
automatically during the ply creation stage

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Section 6: Applying
y g the Ply
y Exploder

Showing the plies

Make sure your sequences were created; otherwise,
this ply exploder will fail.
The ply exploder will automatically build 2-D surfaces
for each ply in the z-direction. This will enhance the
visual perspective of the Laminate, allowing the
engineer to check the integrity of the composite build.
Command Sequence: select,

Shell Constant Offset

Insert
Plies
Ply Exploder

You can also use the following macro to gain access :

You will use all the default settings except for scale.
Also, make sure the Shell Constant Offset ply
representation is selected-it should be by default.
Modify the scale to read 20.
Your done, select OK

Figure 8. Ply Exploder Dialog Box

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

10

Section 7: The Finished Composite Part

The final composite part build is shown in Figure 9.
The ply schematic shows the laminate stack in 3
3-D.
D The colors clearly
show the varying angles of each ply in the Laminate.
Question: Is there any other information that can be gleaned from
this model that we do not already have? The answer is yes.
Using the Numerical Analysis tool, the engineer can extract
information such as: ply surface areas, ply or laminate weights
volumetric mass and much more.
The next section will show just how this is done.

Figure 9. Final Composite Part Build

P1 0
P2 45

Detail A

P3 45
P4 -45
P5 -45
P6 90

Ply Schematic

P7 90
90
P8 0
Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

Detail A

11

Section 8: Numerical Analysis of the Ply

Want to know more than just ply angles and thickness?

Use the Numerical Analysis tool

Command Sequence: select,

Insert
Analysis
y
Numerical Analysis

You can also use the following macro to gain access :

What is the Aerial mass of the ply? Lets find out by

selecting Ply.1
Ply 1 from the model tree
tree.
Once selected the Numerical Analysis dialog box will
update the analysis parameters. See Figure 10.

Aerial ply mass: 0.043 lb

Figure 10. Numerical Analysis of Ply.1

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

12

Section 8b: Numerical Analysis of the Composite Laminate

What is the Aerial mass of the Laminate? Lets find out

by selecting the Plies Group.1 from the model tree.

Once selected the Numerical Analysis dialog box will

update the analysis parameters.
parameters See Figure 10
10.

Aerial Laminate mass: 0.341 lb

You can export yyour data into Excel byy using

g the Export
button.

Figure 10. Numerical Analysis of Ply.1

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

13

Congratulations!
g

You are now able to create a simple composite laminate with CATIAs Composite Engineering Design
product.
product

Use the composite module for preliminary design tasks to quickly create a realistic laminate.

To learn more, try my intermediate and advanced tutorials.

If you have questions or comments; or, you found a mistake in the tutorial, send a email to
norm@abdmatrix.com

Copyright 2008. ABD Matrix, All Rights Reserved.

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