Workshop 06.

1 – Kiteboard

Introduction to
ANSYS Composite PrepPost

Release 2020 R1

1 © 2019 ANSYS, Inc.

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Introduction
• In this workshop, we model a kiteboard.

• We go through the complete process of modeling,

solving and post-processing.

• Step-by-step instructions are provided

• You learn how to model a lay-up with a variable core

thickness on a simple geometry

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Lay-up Information
• Overall dimensions approx. 1.4 m long and 0.4 m wide
• The curvature is neglected in this model although the board has a small curvature
• The impact resistant edge and inserts are also neglect
• The lay-up from the bottom upwards is:
Note
• [-45°, 0°, 45°] carbon plain woven Results shown in these workshop
• foam core of variable thickness, max. 17.5 mm instructions may differ from the
results displayed in your model
• [-45°, 0°, 45°] carbon plain woven depending on material data.

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Start ANSYS Workbench and Open Archive

1
2
1. Start ANSYS Workbench and open the archive
Kiteboard_FROM_START_<Release>.wbpz
2. Save the Workbench project

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Engineering Data 2
1

1. Edit Engineering Data (Right mouse button on Engineering Data → Edit)

2. Add a new Material “Core”
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Engineering Data 1
1 2 3
Use the Engineering Data toolbox to define the following material behavior: 2
1. Define a new material with orthotropic elastic properties for the core
Ex = Ey = Ez = 60 MPa
vxy = vyz = vxz = 0.35
Gxy = Gyz = Gxz = 23 MPa
3
2. Specify the Ply Type as Orthotropic Homogenous Core
3. Define Stress Limits Zt =1.1 MPa, Sxz = 0.8 MPa, Syz = 0.8 MPa
(the remaining stress limits can be defined as zero)
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Engineering Data
43 1
1
2
1. Switch to the Engineering Data Sources tab and select
Composite Materials as Data Source
2. Choose Epoxy Carbon Woven (230 GPa) Prepreg, press the
symbol to add the woven material to Engineering Data
3. Press the Engineering Data Sources tab to return to
Composite Materials is a repository with many typical (UD, woven,
Engineering Data core, resin and fiber) materials already prepared to be used in ACP
workflows. Note that these materials should be considered ONLY
4. Return to the Project schematic for educational purposes.
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Project Schematic

1 2

1. Refresh Model (Right mouse button on Model → Refresh)

2. Open ANSYS Mechanical (Right mouse button on Model → Edit)
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Mechanical

1 1
1
1. Specify a dummy thickness of 1 mm and a dummy material for the kiteboard

The thickness definition and the material assignment will be replaced by ACP-Pre later on! Parts defined according to a
composite lay-up as specified later in ANSYS Composite PrepPost will replace these dummy values, whereas correct
material data for eventual non composite parts and not specified in ACP-Pre must be defined here

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Meshing in Mechanical

1
2
3
1. Add Sizing in Mesh Control
2. Assign a body sizing of 10 mm
3. Right Click on Mesh and select Generate Mesh
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Project Schematic

1. Update Model
2. Refresh Setup and open ANSYS Composite PrepPost
2
(Right mouse button on Setup → Edit)
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3
ACP Setup Fabrics
1 3
4
2 3
1. Select MPA Units
2. Right mouse button on Fabrics → Create Fabrics opens Fabric Properties window
3. Select the woven material for the fabric and rename the fabric for better identification
4. Define a thickness for the single layer (t = 0.2 mm)

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ACP Setup Fabrics

1
1
1. In addition to the UD Fabric define a core fabric, specify a thickness value of 15.2 mm,
this value will change later with an imported core geometry
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• We will use a (-45°, 0°, 45°) stackup for the bottom and top plies.

• A stackup is a predefined combination of multiple fabrics and can be ordered from a

manufacturer.

• Using stackups reduces the number of layers we have to lay down significantly since the
complete stackup is placed as one material.

• The downside of using stackups is that we can not modify the stackup structure itself
anymore. Ply angles of the fabrics used in the stackup are predefined.

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ACP Setup Stackups
3
1
1. Right mouse button on Stackups → Create Stackup opens
2
Stackup Properties window
2. Create a Stackup using three Epoxy Carbon UD Layer (-45°,
0°, 45°)
3. Rename the Stackup for better identification
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ACP Setup Stackups

1

1. Switching to the Analysis tab in the Stackup Properties window allows to check the
definition of the Stackup and gives the mechanical properties in a polar plot
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Element Sets in ACP

1. Check the Element Sets in the model. The Element Sets have been defined based on the
Named Selections
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Oriented Selection Sets define, with the help of Rosettes, the

basis for the lay-up definition. They give you an independence
from your finite element model and its element normals. orientation
They contain the following important details for a composite lay-
up:

• The area which plies are applied to

reference
• The orientation, or side of the shell mesh, on which direction
the plies are applied.
• The reference direction defining the
0° fiber direction. All ply angles are defined relative to
this direction.
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Define Rosettes in ACP
1. Create a Rosette by Right mouse button on Rosettes → Create Rosette (The x-Axis of a Rosette
defines the 0° fiber direction of the lay-up)
2. Chose Parallel Rosette
2
1 3
4
3. Define the origin of the rosette by coordinates or by clicking into the coordinate
definition area and then selecting an element or a node of the model
4. Define directions 1 (1,0,0) and 2 (0,1,0) by defining a vector or by clicking in the vector
definition area and selecting two elements (nodes) while pressing CTRL. The direction
between both elements (nodes) describes the direction (see next slide)
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Defining Directions for the Rosette by Picking Elements

1. Click into the Direction 1 definition area

1 2 Press CTRL

2. Select one element as source

3
3. Press CTRL and select another element as target
This works whenever direction are defined in ANSYS Composite PrepPost. Similar to this you can define origins
by selecting a node or an element and define normal directions simply by selecting an element.
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Oriented Selection Sets

1. Create an Oriented Selection Set by Right mouse button on Oriented Selection Sets →
Create Oriented Selection Set

3
2
1
2. Click in the Element Set selection area
3. Select the Element Set All_Elements
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Oriented Selection Sets
1
33

1. Click in the Orientation Point definition area

2. Select a point in the middle of the Kiteboard (For the plane kiteboard the
position of the orientation point is not important, the importance of the
position will be explained later)
3. Click in the Orientation Direction definition area
4. Select an element to use the element normal as orientation direction (the orientation direction defines the lay-
up direction)
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Oriented Selection Sets

2 1
1. Select Minimum Angle as Selection Method
(The selection method only comes into play for multiple Rosettes. Different options are
explained in the OSS lecture)
2. Select the Rosette generated before
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In ACP, the approach is model-as-you-build-it. Each ply of the laminate is directly applied on
shell mesh as if it were the mold. Foam core laying
between the woven mats
Application of 45 deg woven glass fiber mat over a wooden
before lamination:
core followed by saturation with epoxy resin:

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A virtual geometry can be used to capture the complex thickness

variation of the core layer: this thickness will replace the default /
dummy value specified in Mechanical (the additional woven layers are
laid down over this core)

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Create a Ply

1. Create a Group by Right mouse button on Modeling Groups 1 3

→ Create Modeling Group (Ply Groups are used to organize
the composite lay-up for the design) 2
2. Right mouse button on the Ply Group → Create Ply opens the
Modeling Ply Properties
3
3. Select the oriented selection set created before 4
4. Select the created Stackup as Ply Material (you can select
single Fabrics, Stackups and Sublaminates here)

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Modeling Ply
• Modeling Plies Production Ply
Plies are defined at the Modeling Ply level in ANSYS
Composite PrepPost. Fabric selection, oriented selection
sets and draping is defined one the Modeling Ply level.
• Production Plies
The production ply level describes plies as they are used
in manufacturing. Stackups will be seen at the
production ply level.
• Analysis Plies
At this level all analysis plies are shown as used in the
simulation and available for postprocessing.
Analysis Ply
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We will define section cuts to check the lay-up defined for the kiteboard: section cuts show
the layers of the lay-up in the section plane. The location and direction of the section cut
plane can either be specified by defining an origin and a normal direction or interactively by
dragging and rotating

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Insert Section Cuts and Define Location and Orientation by Input

1. Right mouse button on Section Cuts → Create Section Cut
opens the Section Cut Properties window
2
1
2. Unselect Interactive Plane and type in Origin (0,0,0) and
Normal (0,1,0)
43
3. Select Analysis Ply Wise and define a core scale factor of 1.0
4. You can also scale the section thicknesses in the view by scaling all plies and/or just core
plies
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Section Cuts

1. Check the lay-up using Section Cuts

2. Multiple Section Cuts can be used
3. Use Show / Hide in Pop Up Menu (Right Click on each section cut)

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Interactive Section Cuts

3 2
1. To modify location and direction of the section cut by dragging and rotating select interactive
plane in the section properties window
2. Click on section cut normal and drag normal to rotate section cut
3. Click on section cut plane and drag plane in normal direction to modify the location of the plane
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Show Lay-up Direction and Reference Direction

• Highlight Ply and Click on the Show • Click on the Show Reference Direction icon
Orientations icon in the scene toolbar in the scene toolbar
• If orientations for the ply are not shown • If reference directions for the ply are not
reselect the ply in the tree shown reselect the ply in the tree
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Show Fiber Direction

• Click on the Show Fiber Directions icon in the scene toolbar.

• If fiber directions for the ply are not shown reselect the ply in the tree

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Varying Core Thickness

Core Thickness can be defined using CAD data in ANSYS Composite PrepPost

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Varying Core Thickness

1
2
3
1. Add Geometry object on the project schematic and import kiteboard_core.stp
2. Link the new Geometry to ACP setup and update ACP setup
3. Check geometry object in tree of ACP
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Varying Core Thickness

1
1 11
1. In the ACP tree create a Virtual Geometry selecting the previous CAD Geometry as Sub
Shape

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Varying Core Thickness

3
1 4
2
1. Hide Geometry
2. Select the first Stackup Modeling Ply in the Modeling Groups section → Right mouse button →
Create Ply after
3. Select Oriented Selection Set containing all elements and the defined core fabrics as ply material
4. Switch to tab Thickness
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Varying Core Thickness

1
2
1. Switch Type to From Geometry
2. Select the Virtual Geometry created before as Core
Geometry
3. Update the model to see the new layer in the section cut

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Create the Top Layer

1. Right mouse button on the existing Ply Group → Create Ply
opens the Modeling Ply Properties for a new ply

2 4 3
1
2. Click in the Oriented Selection Sets selection area
3. Select the Oriented Selection Set created at the beginning,
this step defines the top layers covering the core material
4. Select the Stackup as Ply Material and update the model
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• We have completed the composite lay-up definition. The composite preprocessing

part of the analysis is therefore completed.
• As a next step we have to add boundary conditions and loads to our model.

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Add a New Static Structural 2

1
2
1 2
1. Drag and Drop a Static Structural Analysis onto the project page
2. Link Setup of ACP (Pre) to Model of Static Structural (select Transfer Shell Composite
Data), refresh and edit Model of Static Structural
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Simulate the Rear Binder

1. Create a Named Selection for the rear binder by selecting the imprint on the base of the kiteboard
2. Attach a deformable Remote Point to simulate the rear binder

2 1

2
1 1
42 © 2019 ANSYS, Inc.
6. Kiteboard This load scenario corresponds to a person of 105 Kg
landing on its rear foot after a jump

Add Boundary Conditions and Loads

1
2 1 2
1 2
1. Use Remote Displacement to fix the rear binder
2. Apply a vertical force acting on the kiteboard
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Find Solution in Mechanical

1

1. Solve the Model

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Post-processing

1 2 3

1. Right click on solution > insert total deformation

2. Click on View and select Thick Shells and Beams
3. Global Postprocessing like Deformations can be done inside Mechanical
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Post-processing
3
2
1
1.
2.
Insert the Composite Failure Tool to the Mechanical Tree
Select Composite Failure Tool
4
3. Choose Maximum Stress and Core Failure
4. Configure Maximum Stress and Failure toolboxes
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Post-processing

1. Click right on Composite Failure tool and select Inverse

Reserve Factor to create a failure plot 1
Click on the legend and select High Fidelity to
correct the possible presence of small
visualization errors in the plot due to rounding

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• As a next step we will evaluate composite specific results also in

ANSYS Composite PrepPost.
• We will see how to apply different failure criteria and evaluate the design based on
failure criteria and stresses within the layer.

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Add ACP Post

1
2
1. Drag and Drop an ACP (Post) component system onto ACP (Pre) and link the Solution of
Static Structural to the Results of ACP (Post)
2. Open the results in ANSYS Composite PrepPost (Right mouse button on the ACP (Post)
Results → Edit

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Check the Solution Transferred to ACP Post

Before evaluating results the user needs to define the result file to postprocess. See Solution 1
Object under Solutions in tree, for the automatically inserted object.

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Note that the stress plot is
compute ply-wise, so a ply from
1
Visualize the Solution modeling group must be selected
for visualization of the results
1. Insert a deformation plot
2. Add a stress plot (choose a ply-wise
visualization)
1
2
1
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2
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Add a Failure Criterion (ACP Definitions)

1. Before evaluating Failure results the user needs to define the type of Failure Criteria's
which should be evaluated.
2. Failure Criteria need to be added under Definitions to be available for postprocessing
under Solution.
1 1

2
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Edit stress plot’s to layer by layer

3
4
1.
2.
Select Ply Wise Postprocessing
Select type of stress and component 1
3.
4.
RMB on Stress.1 and select Show
Select Analysis Plies, RMB, in the Modeling Groups
2
section to evaluate stress results layer by layer
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Edit stress plot’s to layer by layer

1. Get exact value for a specific

element by selecting the
element

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Evaluate Failure Criteria

1
2 2 2
1. Evaluate Failure Criteria Ply Wise and
select Inverse Reserve Factor
2. Select Analysis Plies in the Modeling Ply Group
section to evaluate failure criteria layer by layer

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Evaluate Failure Criteria

1. Zoom into critical area of the core ply

2. Switch Annotation on to highlight critical failure criteria in contour plot (Toggle
Text Plot) (Avoid switching annotation on when complete model is displayed)
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Comparison with physical testing

The core material of a kiteboard with the geometry and lay-up considered in this workshop
failed in jump load scenario. ACP predicts a critical failure mode localized in the core material
(cf label) with a max Inverse Reserve Factor (IRF) of 1.01 in a similar load scenario

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• All in One Overview Plot

In addition to the layerwise postprocessing failure criteria can be evaluated as all in
one overview plot.
• In One View
• Failure Criteria
• Failure Mode s2t(5) s2t(5)
• Critical Layer
• Critical Loadstep
s2t(5)
s2t(5)

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Critical Failure Mode and Layer

1
1
2
1. Click on Failure.1 and unselect Ply Wise evaluation
2. Select Show Failure Mode Plot and Critical Layer
3. Highlight Annotation (cf(4) indicates failure of layer number 4 according to
core failure criterion). See all failure criteria terms on next slides
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Modify Contour Settings

Max. Default Failure Criteria = 1.125 Max. Value defined by maximal occurring value User Defined value as max. value

Min. Default Failure Criteria = 0 Min. Value defined by minimal occurring value User Defined value as min. value

Use Defaults Auto Values User Defined Values

• Contour Settings are modified in the Legend tab of the Plots under
Solution. Default maximum and minimum values are not the
same for all results (stresses, strains, failure criteria …).

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Failure Modes:

Maximum Strain e1t, e1c, e2t, e2c, e12

Failure modes
LaRC (2D) lf (fiber failure)
Maximum Stress s1t, s1c, s2t, s2c, s3t, s3c, s12, lmt (matrix failure tension)
s23, s13 lmc (matrix failure compression)
Tsai-Wu 2D and 3D tw Cuntze 2D and 3D cft (fiber tension failure)
Tsai-Hill 2D and 3D th cfc (fiber compression failure)
cmA (matrix tension failure)
Hashin hf (fiber failure) cmB (matrix compression failure)
hm (matrix failure) cmC (matrix wedge shape failure)
hd (delamination failure)
Sandwich Failure wb (wrinkling bottom face)
Puck (simplified, 2D pf (fiber failure) Wrinkling wt (wrinkling top face)
and 3D) pmA (matrix tension failure)
pmB (matrix compression Sandwich Failure Core cf (core failure)
failure) Hoffman ho
pmC (matrix shear failure)
pd (delamination)
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Sampling Points
2
1 3
2
1. Create a sampling point by Right Mouse Button on Sampling Points → Create Sampling
Point
2. Select one of the element to fill in the sampling point position
3. Choose the shown sampling direction
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Sampling Points
1
2 32 3

1. Switch to tab Analysis and adjust core scale factor for visualization purposes
2. Select information to show through the element
3. Add Stress plot through the layers of the selected element
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Summary
• A sandwich structure in the shape of a kiteboard is modeled.
• The variable thickness of the core is defined with CAD geometry
• The structure is analyzed under a load case that mimics a landing scenario.
• The critical failure mode is core failure.
• Core failure is driven by off-plane shear stresses.

Outlook
• Discuss in class what could be done to reduce the highest inverse reserve factor!

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