Learning Forum

[cheng089413]

Hello!

I have a question about how to define orthotropic material in workbench

The model is of orthoptropic nonlinear material. I want to define orthotropic elastic mateial for now. The orthotropic elastic material parameters can be input by engineering material module.

Do I have to establish a local coordinate system in workbench first and then assign it to the model? For the large deflection is on and the model will rotate to a certain angle, will the local coordinate system rotate with the model?

Or do I need to use "Element orientation" to define the orthotropic material? I applied the surface and edge guide and ansys did not generate element orientation. 

Can anyone help explain abou this? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Eason

[Chandra Sekaran]

You need the 'element orientation' to specify the element coordinate system for each element. The Orthotropic X,Y,Z properties entered in Engineering Data will be interpreted in this elemetn coordinate system for each element.

[cheng089413]

Hello Chandra,

Thank you so much for your reply.

By following your instructions, I created a local coordinate system called "beam"  coinciding with the global coordinate system and used this local cooridinate for the element orientation, as marked in the snapshot. I just wanna make sure I understand it corrctly. So after the force is applied, the element coordinate will rotate accordingly and thus the orthotropic properties will be interpreted in the directions with the rotating, rather than the original ones. Is that right?

Thanks agian!

Eason