Ply stack
Set material references, angles and thicknesses. The stack defines laminate stiffness, mass and reference properties.
Workflow / 03.3 Laminates
Turn ply definitions into
laminate decisions.
Connect stored or Micro-derived ply properties to a stacking sequence, then choose a compatible structural or separate analytical study.
8 plies · 1.000 mm total. Thickness is proportional in the section; line direction indicates angle, not a stress field.
[θ / −θ / 0 / 90 / 90 / 0 / −θ / θ]
03.3 / Workflow focus
Connected engineering recordCLT and FSDT
ABD properties support laminate response. Finite-plate studies select CLT or FSDT within their supported boundary and study limits; static plate bending requires FSDT.
Failure and interfaces
Eligible CLT cases use the released failure criteria. Coupled delamination belongs to the supported layerwise section path with calibrated interfaces, not every plate solver.
Separate analytical studies
Open-hole strength, linear-shear LaRC04 initiation, axial creep and uncertainty use the linked laminate reference state. They do not automatically inherit process or progressive-damage histories.
Design exploration
Carpet maps and bounded optimization compare candidates. Apply a candidate and rerun the appropriate analysis; a saved result does not update itself.
Workbench availability: released models, inputs and compatible study paths. The wider theory library includes reference formulations not available in every Workbench solve.
Use this workflow in Workbench: interactive Blocks, record selections and connection controls →
Connected model layer
Laminates · released model connections
Expand a family for inputs, outputs, supported formulations, theory and an exercise. All model families ↗
Structural mechanics
Size plates, beams, shells, sandwich panels and joints
- Laminate & geometry
- Load response / stability
- Displacements, stresses & modes
Explore 2 families · 9 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.
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.
Failure, durability & variability
Assess strength, service life and sensitivity
- Ply response & calibration
- Selected assessment
- Indices, envelopes & life estimates
Explore 5 families · 9 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.
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.
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 9 families · 9 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.
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.