Plate and beam response
Use the released CLT/FSDT finite-plate or membrane/beam path with compatible dimensions, loads and supports. Buckling, modal and static bending are distinct study choices.
Capabilities / 02.6
Connect laminate behavior to
structural performance.
Choose a compatible released plate, cylinder, beam, section, joint or analytical study. Shared laminate inputs do not make every model combination valid.
Through-thickness stress plots distinguish ply-level component response. This capture illustrates the CLT view, not an FSDT benchmark.
Workbench capture · September 6, 2026. Representative interface and demo data, not a new solver run or validation certificate. Control locations may differ in later releases.02.6 / How CDS solves it
From engineering question to validation dataCylinder formulations
Thin-wall membrane and layerwise thick-wall elasticity have different load and process limits. Donnell axial buckling is a separate thin-shell study with an explicit knockdown factor.
Sections and joints
Layerwise sections, lap joints and sandwich bending have their own geometry and interfaces. The analytical Volkersen / Goland–Reissner study is a separate identical-adherend elastic approximation.
Failure and notches
The five existing criteria support eligible CLT first-ply / progressive calculations. LaRC04 linear-shear initiation and calibrated open-hole strength are separate studies, not additional progressive choices.
Fatigue
S–N models predict life from calibrated data. Residual stiffness / strength requires independently fitted retention laws in its separate study; neither automatically changes optimization properties.
Creep, shape and uncertainty
Reference-state studies explore time response, prescribed-eigenstrain free release and bounded ABD sampling. Their scope, inputs and output handoffs are listed below.
Keep validation data connected
Run the selected Simulation after relevant edits. Review model assumptions, stale-result warnings, convergence and calibration before interpreting the result.
Workbench availability: released models, inputs and compatible study paths. The wider theory library includes reference formulations not available in every Workbench solve.
Released models, connections and theory
Heat, moisture & manufacturing
Cure, pultrusion, conditioning and tool release
- Material laws & boundary cycles
- Transport & reaction
- History & compatible process fields
Explore 1 family · 1 model choices
Tool-release shape · 1
Structural models → Tool-release shape
InputsLaminate and prescribed temperatures, CTE and effective post-gel shrinkageResults / handoffFree-release CLT curvature and separate corner spring-in estimate; not an automatic process-history handoff
- Free-release eigenstrain & spring-in
Free CLT release from prescribed ply-local shrinkage/thermal eigenstrains. Corner spring-in is a separate uniform-strain estimate. Stress-free temperature and effective post-gel shrinkage need calibration. No tool friction, cure kinetics or viscoelastic restraint history.
Structural mechanics
Size plates, beams, shells, sandwich panels and joints
- Laminate & geometry
- Load response / stability
- Displacements, stresses & modes
Explore 7 families · 17 model choices
Plate · CLT & FSDT · 6
Structural models → Laminate mechanics · CLT / FSDT
InputsLaminate stiffness, finite plate dimensions, supported edges and study choiceResults / handoffFSDT static bending or selected buckling / modal results; not progressive damage
- CLT
- FSDT
- Static bending
- Modal
- Buckling
- Buckling and modal
Choose a formulation and study. Buckling and modal can be requested together; static bending requires FSDT. These are reference-elastic studies, separate from coupled process or progressive failure.
Cylinder · 2
Structural models → Cylinder models
InputsLaminate, cylinder dimensions and formulation-compatible pressure / axial loadingResults / handoffThin-wall membrane response or layerwise radial fields, with distinct assumptions
- Linear thin-wall membrane
- Layerwise thick-wall elasticity
Choose one cylinder formulation per case record. Geometry and plies remain shared; thick-wall radial results exclude torsion and process strains.
Membrane, bending & beam buckling · 3
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Membrane, bending & beam
InputsLaminate, compatible section and static or Euler load caseResults / handoffMembrane / bending response or separate Euler buckling result
- Linear static
- Linear static with failure indices
- Beam Euler buckling
Geometry and the case determine the membrane or beam-test interpretation. Euler buckling requires a compatible beam section and a separate reference-elastic study; it is not a strength or local-buckling pass.
Layerwise sections, joints & delamination · 3
Structural models → Layerwise sections & joints
InputsSection or lap geometry, laminate, loads and calibrated interface propertiesResults / handoffx–z fields; coupled ply damage and delamination only for the supported layerwise plate path
- Layerwise x-z plane strain
- Single-lap x-z plane strain
- Coupled delamination growth
Coupled delamination is available only for the layerwise Plate section and needs calibrated interface and ply properties. Lap-shear uses its separate joint geometry and perfectly bonded elastic formulation.
Sandwich bending · 1
Structural models → Sandwich bending
InputsFaces, core, dimensions and three-point-bend loadResults / handoffDeflection and separate face, core and nominal bond-shear screening
- Sandwich three-point bend
Dedicated sandwich screening. Check core, faces and nominal bond shear separately; peel, mixed-mode debonding and crack growth are not assessed.
Analytical bonded joint · 1
Structural models → Layerwise sections & joints → Analytical bonded joint
InputsIdentical equivalent-elastic adherends, adhesive, overlap, width and tensile forceResults / handoffVolkersen shear and Goland–Reissner shear / peel; no debond growth
- Volkersen & Goland–Reissner joint
Identical equivalent-elastic adherends, long free arms and a thin elastic adhesive. Compare shear-only Volkersen with eccentric single-lap shear and peel. Not a debonding, plasticity or strength calculation.
Cylinder buckling · 1
Structural models → Cylinder models → Cylinder buckling
InputsThin specially orthotropic shell, radius, length, axial compression and prescribed knockdownResults / handoffIdeal / knocked-down Donnell axial buckling and governing mode; no pressure or postbuckling
- Donnell cylinder · axial buckling
Simply supported, thin, specially orthotropic cylinder under uniform axial compression. Discrete Donnell modes; prescribed knockdown factor explores imperfection sensitivity, not a prediction from measured imperfection amplitude. No pressure, torsion, postbuckling or strength pass.
Failure, durability & variability
Assess strength, service life and sensitivity
- Ply response & calibration
- Selected assessment
- Indices, envelopes & life estimates
Explore 7 families · 15 model choices
Failure & envelope comparison · 5
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Failure criteria
InputsEligible CLT load case, strengths / strain limits and selected criterionResults / handoffFirst-ply envelopes or supported progressive ply-damage histories; criteria are not blended
- Maximum stress
- Maximum strain
- Tsai–Hill
- Tsai–Wu
- Hashin
One primary failure criterion per load. In Response → Failure, compare all eligible theories or a custom selection in the envelope controls. Each theory runs independently; criteria are not blended.
Fatigue S–N · 5
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Fatigue
InputsIntact ply stresses, cyclic loads and measured S–N calibrationResults / handoffSeparate life assessment; no automatic laminate degradation
- Kim–Zhang
- Sendeckyj
- Weibull S–N
- Kohout–Vechet
- Basquin
Select calibrated S–N curves for each material, direction and stress sign in Fatigue. Different sources can use different models. S–N life does not define residual stiffness or strength.
Open-hole strength · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Failure criteria → Open-hole strength
InputsSpecially orthotropic laminate, hole radius, unnotched strength and calibrated distancesResults / handoffPoint / average stress strength screening and radial stress profile
- Whitney–Nuismer open-hole tension
Infinite-width, specially orthotropic tension screening. Point and average stress distances must be calibrated independently for this laminate. Not compression, bearing or a joint allowable.
Creep & stress relaxation · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Creep & stress relaxation
InputsLaminate Ex, Prony fractions / times and held stress or strain at calibration temperatureResults / handoffSeparate axial creep and relaxation curves with time-refinement safeguards
- Generalized Maxwell · axial Prony
Linear uniaxial response at the calibration temperature. Reference Ex is the instantaneous modulus. Three Maxwell branches; creep is solved from stress equilibrium, not the reciprocal relaxation modulus. No thermal shifting or nonlinear creep.
LaRC04 failure initiation · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Failure criteria → LaRC04
InputsLaminate, membrane / bending resultants and calibrated effective ply strengthsResults / handoffLinear-shear LaRC04 initiation indices at ply faces; no progressive degradation
- LaRC04 · linear shear
NASA LaRC04 linear-shear specialization, evaluated at both faces of every ply under membrane and bending loads. Supplied ply strengths are effective/in-situ values; no automatic thin-ply enhancement. Initiation only, not degradation or nonlinear-shear instability.
Fatigue residual properties · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Fatigue → Residual properties
InputsModulus, independently fitted stiffness / strength retention laws, life and elapsed cyclesResults / handoffResidual-property curves for the specified constant-amplitude calibration; saved laminate is unchanged
- Calibrated residual-property fatigue
Prescribed power-law retention fitted to constant-amplitude tests at a fixed stress ratio, amplitude and temperature. Stiffness and strength have independent coefficients. S–N life alone cannot calibrate either. Does not modify the saved laminate.
Uncertainty & sensitivity · 1
Structural models → Uncertainty & sensitivity
InputsLaminate, bounded modulus / thickness / angle variations, seed and axial loadResults / handoffABD axial-strain percentiles and signed correlations; not certified reliability
- Seeded laminate uncertainty
Seeded independent uniform sampling of shared modulus, ply-thickness and angle offsets. Recomputes laminate ABD for each sample. Bounds are assumptions, not measured distributions. Percentiles and sensitivity are exploratory, not reliability certification.
Virtual test lab
Explore specimen behavior and calibration
- Specimen & material inputs
- Virtual test
- Response & comparison
Explore 10 families · 10 model choices
D6641 · Compression coupon · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffUniform small-strain compression using linked laminate Ex and thickness. Measured compressive strength supplies a screening ratio; fixture, tabs, buckling and failure evolution are not simulated.
- Virtual test · compression coupon
Uniform small-strain compression using linked laminate Ex and thickness. Measured compressive strength supplies a screening ratio; fixture, tabs, buckling and failure evolution are not simulated.
D5379 / D7078 · Shear coupon · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffUniform nominal shear between notches using linked laminate Gxy and thickness. Not a notch/fixture stress field or nonlinear shear solution. Gauge length is the effective shear deformation length, not crosshead travel.
- Virtual test · nominal shear coupon
Uniform nominal shear between notches using linked laminate Gxy and thickness. Not a notch/fixture stress field or nonlinear shear solution. Gauge length is the effective shear deformation length, not crosshead travel.
D5528 · DCB opening · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffIdeal Euler–Bernoulli DCB with equal homogeneous 0° arms, each half the linked laminate thickness. No root rotation, shear, large displacement or cohesive growth. Critical load is an initiation estimate from supplied GIc.
- Virtual test · DCB beam compliance
Ideal Euler–Bernoulli DCB with equal homogeneous 0° arms, each half the linked laminate thickness. No root rotation, shear, large displacement or cohesive growth. Critical load is an initiation estimate from supplied GIc.
D7905 · ENF sliding · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffIdeal equal-arm, homogeneous 0° ENF beam; support span is twice the half-span. Crack must be shorter than the half-span. No shear/root correction or unstable crack growth. GIIc is supplied, not fitted automatically.
- Virtual test · ENF beam compliance
Ideal equal-arm, homogeneous 0° ENF beam; support span is twice the half-span. Crack must be shorter than the half-span. No shear/root correction or unstable crack growth. GIIc is supplied, not fitted automatically.
D6671 · Mixed-mode fracture envelope · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffBenzeggagh–Kenane envelope from calibrated GIc, GIIc and exponent. Supplied GI/GII are energy-release rates from a separate test reduction or analysis. This does not resolve the MMB lever fixture or propagate a crack.
- Virtual test · BK mixed-mode envelope
Benzeggagh–Kenane envelope from calibrated GIc, GIIc and exponent. Supplied GI/GII are energy-release rates from a separate test reduction or analysis. This does not resolve the MMB lever fixture or propagate a crack.
D5229 · Moisture uptake calibration · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffHomogeneous slab, initially dry, both faces held at equilibrium moisture. Fits diffusivity from two early uptake measurements (both ≤50% saturation) using the square-root-time approximation. Edge ingress and temperature dependence are excluded. Does not overwrite material properties.
- Virtual test · Fickian uptake calibration
Homogeneous slab, initially dry, both faces held at equilibrium moisture. Fits diffusivity from two early uptake measurements (both ≤50% saturation) using the square-root-time approximation. Edge ingress and temperature dependence are excluded. Does not overwrite material properties.
D5961 · Bearing / bypass screening · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffSingle-pin nominal bearing, net-section and shear-out checks with independent measured allowables. Bypass tension is added to net-section load only. No contact, bolt preload, load redistribution or validated bearing–bypass interaction envelope.
- Virtual test · bearing bypass screening
Single-pin nominal bearing, net-section and shear-out checks with independent measured allowables. Bypass tension is added to net-section load only. No contact, bolt preload, load redistribution or validated bearing–bypass interaction envelope.
D6484 · Open-hole compression · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffNominal gross/net stress and demand relative to measured open-hole compressive strength for this geometry and layup. This is test-data screening, not an uncalibrated notch-strength prediction. No local buckling or kink-band simulation.
- Virtual test · measured open-hole compression
Nominal gross/net stress and demand relative to measured open-hole compressive strength for this geometry and layup. This is test-data screening, not an uncalibrated notch-strength prediction. No local buckling or kink-band simulation.
D6742 · Filled-hole comparison · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffCompares user-measured open- and filled-hole compressive strengths using gross-section stress. Use matched layup, hole, environment and fastener condition. Filling a hole does not automatically recover strength; no fastener contact/preload model is applied.
- Virtual test · measured filled-hole comparison
Compares user-measured open- and filled-hole compressive strengths using gross-section stress. Use matched layup, hole, environment and fastener condition. Filling a hole does not automatically recover strength; no fastener contact/preload model is applied.
D7136 / D7137 · Impact & CAI assessment · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
InputsLinked laminate and explicit specimen, load or measured calibration inputsResults / handoffIncident energy from measured impact velocity; residual compressive strength from measured peak CAI force. Rebound energy estimates energy not returned to the striker, NOT damage energy. No impact/contact solver, damage-area prediction or energy-to-strength extrapolation.
- Virtual test · measured impact and CAI
Incident energy from measured impact velocity; residual compressive strength from measured peak CAI force. Rebound energy estimates energy not returned to the striker, NOT damage energy. No impact/contact solver, damage-area prediction or energy-to-strength extrapolation.
Electromagnetics & RF
Design dielectric mixtures, shielding and periodic layers
- Electrical properties & layers
- Effective medium / wave propagation
- Permittivity & RF response
Explore 4 families · 4 model choices
Normal-incidence laminate TMM · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Normal-incidence laminate TMM
InputsExplicit dielectric A/B layers, thicknesses, repetition, frequency and supported polarizationResults / handoffReflection, transmission, absorption and shielding spectra; no mechanical coupling
- EM · Normal-incidence laminate TMM
Coherent isotropic nonmagnetic layers between air half-spaces.
Oblique polarized laminate TMM · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Oblique polarized laminate TMM
InputsExplicit dielectric A/B layers, thicknesses, repetition, frequency and supported polarizationResults / handoffReflection, transmission, absorption and shielding spectra; no mechanical coupling
- EM · Oblique polarized laminate TMM
TE or TM waves; scalar isotropic layers, no polarization conversion.
1D transmission line matrix · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → 1D transmission line matrix
InputsExplicit dielectric A/B layers, thicknesses, repetition, frequency and supported polarizationResults / handoffReflected and transmitted pulse histories and spectra; mesh and energy checks
- EM · 1D transmission line matrix
Normal-incidence lossless delay-line mesh with pulse decay, energy and mesh-refinement safeguards. Explicit Run required; not a 3D solver.
1D Floquet–Bloch periodic layers · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → 1D Floquet–Bloch periodic layers
InputsExplicit dielectric A/B layers, thicknesses, repetition, frequency and supported polarizationResults / handoffPeriodic-cell eigenvalues, folded Bloch phase and stop-band decay
- EM · 1D Floquet–Bloch periodic layers
Lossless isotropic A/B unit-cell eigenvalues, folded Bloch phase and stop-band attenuation at normal incidence. Not arbitrary-cell homogenization.
Outcomes and boundaries
- Compatibility and model licensing are checked for the selected Simulation.
- Finite-plate, thick-wall cylinder and reference-state analytical studies have distinct assumptions.
- Impact, ballistic tile and general 3D finite-element solves are not offered in the hosted release.
- Teaching inputs and software checks do not establish experimentally qualified allowables.
Delivered capability
Methods available in CDSPlate CLT/FSDT, membrane/beam and Euler studies
Thin-wall and layerwise cylinder models; separate Donnell buckling
Layerwise sections, lap joints, sandwich bending and supported cohesive growth
Five existing criteria, separate LaRC04 initiation and open-hole strength
Calibrated S–N and separate residual-property fatigue
Axial creep / relaxation, prescribed-eigenstrain tool release and bounded uncertainty