Single Layer Material
The Single Layer Material node () provides a quick way to define data for a non-layered material to be used in physics feature designed for layered materials. Using a single layer material is equivalent to defining a Layered Material with only one layer, and then referencing it through a Layered Material Link.
Layer Definition
•
Enter a Label, which can be used for future reference. The default is Layer.
•
Enter the layer Thickness (default unit: m)
•
Enter the Rotation. If the material in the layer is orthotropic or anisotropic, enter the angle in degrees (positive counterclockwise) from the first principal axis of the laminate to the first principal axis of the layer. Even for an isotropic material, the orientation can matter for result presentation, since it affects the interpretation of for example stress tensor components.
•
Select a Material from the list. It contains all global materials, as well as all materials defined in the current component.
By clicking the Go to Material () button you can jump to the settings for the selected material.
Click the Add Material from Library button () to add a global material from the material libraries or a new blank global material. The added material then becomes the one selected in the Material list.
•
Enter the number of Mesh elements. In the physics interfaces, the layered materials are handled through the concept of a virtual extra dimension. For a layered material defined on a boundary, you can think of this as an extra coordinate in the normal direction. Enter the number of elements that you want in the extra dimension for the layer.
Interface Property
In some physics features, not only the layers themselves but also the interfaces between them are important. In such a case, you can assign materials to the interfaces in this table. The single layer shell has two external interfaces — the downside and the upside — and no internal interfaces. You can specify data for the two sides individually.
In most cases, you do not need to enter anything in this section.
The Label is the interface name, for future reference. As a default, the interface names are Downside and Upside, respectively.
Select the Material of each interface.
By clicking the Go to Material () button, you can jump to the settings for the selected material.
Click the Add Material from Library button () to add a global material from the material libraries or a new blank global material. The added material then becomes the one selected in the Material list.
Nonlayered Material Setting
In some cases, a single standard material definition is needed on the same boundary as a layered material. This can for example be the case if two different physics interfaces are active on the same boundary, but only one of them supports a layered material definition. You can select any non-layered material from the Material list. This selection is completely analogous to using a Material Link.
You cannot use an ordinary Material or Material Link with the same selection as the Single Layered Material. These nodes override each other.
By clicking the Go to Material () button, you can jump to the settings for the selected material.
Click the Add Material from Library button () to add a global material from the material libraries or a new blank global material. The added material then becomes the one selected in the Material list.
Orientation and Position
Select a Coordinate system defining the principal directions of the laminate. The orientation of the single layer, as given in Rotation, is a rotation from the first coordinate axis of this coordinate system. Only Boundary System coordinate systems can be selected.
Choose a Position — Midplane on boundary, Down side on boundary, Up side on boundary, or User defined. This controls the possible offset of the material from the geometrical boundary on which the mesh exists (the reference surface). For User defined, enter a value for the Relative midplane offset. The value 1 corresponds to Down side on boundary, and the value −1 corresponds to Up side on boundary. Values may be outside the range −1 to 1, in which case the reference surface is outside the laminate.
The Position setting is only used by physics features where the physical behavior depends of the actual location, such as structural shells.
By clicking the Layer Cross Section Preview () button, you get a preview plot of the single layer material, including the location of the reference surface. This plot looks similar to Figure 9-12, but there is only a single layer.
Preview Plot Settings
In this section, you can fine-tune the display in the preview plot.
The value of the Thickness-to-width ratio controls the height in the y-direction. The width is always unity.
Deselect the Shows labels in cross section plot check box to remove the text labels showing layer names and materials.
Material Contents
See the documentation for Material Contents for the Material node.
The Value column usually contains the string Layer, indicating that the actual value is layer dependent.