Defining the Composites Parameters

In pre-R18 models:

• Zones are linked, via the Laminate, to materials inside a CATMaterial.
  If the CATMaterial is not available, the zone laminate is KO and the following cannot be created:
  • Plies from zones,
  • Solid/top surface from zones.
• Each ply is linked to a material inside the CATMaterial
  if the CATMaterial is not available, the ply is KO and the following cannot be created:
  • Solid from plies
  • Exploded surfaces
  • Producibility/ Flatten
  • etc.

In short, nothing can be done with a Composites CATPart if the corresponding CATMaterial is not available, which causes numerous issues especially when sending models to a partner for example.
Starting with R18, you can define the Composites Parameters by selecting only the required materials from one or several catalogs, instead of selecting a whole material catalog. This enables the Composites Parameters to store a list of material cache features that will each have:

• a list of knowledgeware parameters corresponding to the material properties needed to update the CATPart even if the material catalog is not available,
• a link to the corresponding material in a material catalog.

Please note:

• that not all material parameters are stored in the Composites Parameters.
  This means that a FEA analysis cannot be performed if the catalog is not available.
• The materials proposed in the commands defining zones and plies are only those defined in the Composites Parameters.
• Instead of having an applied material like in previous releases, the ply will only a point to the corresponding material cache available in the composites parameters.
  You can no longer apply a material at a ply level.
  Replacing a material in all plies will be done through the rerouting of the material link.
• The laminate feature of zones will no longer point to the materials in the CATMaterial like in previous releases.
  It will now directly point to the Composites materials stored under the Composites Parameters. This will be transparent for the user.
• Pre-R18 models need to be updated.

1. Click Composites Parameters .
   The Composites Parameters dialog box is displayed.
   

2. Click Add Materials. The Materials dialog box is displayed:
   
   Click ... and use the File Selection box to select a catalog of materials. The Materials dialog box is updated with the list of the materials contained in this catalog.
   The drop-down list allows you to filter the materials by family. By default it is set to All Families.
   Select the materials (at least one) you want to use (multi-selection is available) and click OK.
   
   You can repeat this step with another material catalog to select more materials.

3. The Composites Parameters dialog box is updated.
   
   All columns, as well as the dialog box, are resizable, e.g.:
   
   Those columns list the material properties needed to update the CATPart:

   Material ID	stands for Material ID
   Material name	stands for the Material Name
   Material type	stands for Type of the material (Uni-directional, Bi-Directional, Non-Structural)
   Cur...	stands for Cured Thickness (mm)
   Unc...	stands for Uncured Thickness (mm)
   Wid...	stands for Width (mm)
   Wa...	stands for Warn Angle (deg)
   Limi...	stands for Limit Angle (deg)
   Sur...	stands for Surfacic mass (kg_m2)

4. Use the Up and Down arrow to change the order of the materials in the table (and in commands defining zones and plies).

5. The name of materials can be very long. They are displayed in the Material Name field, that cannot be edited. You can give the material a shorter name in the Material ID field.

6. In the Direction field, you can enter a new fiber direction to add to the existing list.
   Enter the name, the value and the color of the direction, then click Add.
   Use the Up and Down arrows to change the order of the direction values, and Remove to remove a value.

7. Click OK. The material cache features are stored under the Composites Parameters node:
   

• The material parameters are not editable.
• A contextual menu is available on the material cache features:  
  
  
• You can edit the Composites Parameters and add new materials even after zones and plies have been created.
• Note that the ply points to the material cache feature stored in the Composites Parameters.