/PLY (New!)

Block Format Keyword

/PLY - Ply definition (for use with /PROP/PCOMPP and /STACK)

Description

This option is used to define plies made of 4-node and 3-node shell elements with /PROP/PCOMPP.

Format

Field	Contents	SI Unit Example
ply_ID	Ply identifier (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
unit_ID	Optional unit identifier (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
ply_title	Ply title (Character, maximum 100 characters)
mat_ID	Material identifier for layer (Integer)
t	Thickness of layer (Real)
	Incremental angle for layer (Real)
grsh4n_ID	Shell 4-nodes group identifier connected to Ply (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
grsh3n_ID	Shell 3-nodes group identifier connected to Ply (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
Npt_ply	Number of integration points through ply thickness (Integer) = 0: Default = 1 Maximum value = 9
	Angle between first and second material direction for ply i Default = 90.0 (Real)
drape_ID	Drape identifier (Integer)
def_orth	= 0: Default = 2 (Comment 4) = 1: The orthotropy angle is calculated using the angle defined in /SHELL and /SH3N = 2: The orthotropy angle is calculated using the skew and rotation defined in /STACK option. (Integer)

1.	The ply option is used in combination with /STACK and /PROP/PCOMPPS to create ply-based sandwich composite properties. Refer to example in /STACK.

2.	All elements defined in the ply must use the /PROP/PCOMPP property. This option is only compatible with Material Laws 25, 36, 60 and user laws.

3.	The ply can be attached to a group of shell element (4 or 3 node shell or both).

4.	If both the grsh4n_ID and the grsh3n_ID are 0, the ply is void (no element).

5.	If drape_ID is defined, the angle of each element defined in the drape is incremented by the value defined for this element () and the thickness is modified according to the thinning for this element (/DRAPE).

6.	If def_orth = 2, the angle between the reference direction and the first direction of orthotropy is:

where, is the angle increment defined in the drape option drape_ID (if any) and is defined in the /STACK for layer.

If def_orth = 1, the angle between the shell skew and the first direction of orthotropy is:

where, is the angle increment defined in the drape option drape_ID (if any) and is defined in the shell (/SHELL or /SH3N).

If def_orth = 1, skew_ID, VX, VY, and VZ from /STACK input are ignored.