Layer and Interface Selections
Once a layered material is defined, it is possible to use the layer information while setting up the selections in a physics interface and its different features.
The physics features can be of two, fundamentally different, types: Those who act on the layers themselves, and those who act on the interfaces between layers. The settings for these two types of features are slightly different.
Layer Features
The physics interface and its layer features have a section named Shell Properties. The layer selections made in this section interact with the standard selections of geometrical objects (boundary, edges, or points) in order to provide a complete specification of where a material property or boundary condition is to be applied.
The default selections in the Shell Properties section differ between different physics features. This reflects the fact that some physics features (such as thermal expansion) are more likely to be applied to all layers, whereas other features (such as added mass) are more likely to be used for a single layer or interface.
The section always contains a check box named Use all layers. When selected, you cannot control individual layers; the contribution is given to all layers. All information is taken from the definitions made in the layered material features (Layered Material Link, Layered Material Stack, or Single Layer Material) under Materials in the current component. This means that a single physics node can accommodate several different stacking sequences. As geometrical selection, you can use any object selected in any of the layered material features.
When Use all layers is not selected, the Layer list is displayed. You can select
 Any Layered Material Link defined under Materials in the current component.
 Any Layered Material Stack defined under Materials in the current component.
 Any Single Layer Material defined under Materials in the current component.
If you select an individual Layered Material Link, Layered Material Stack, or Single Layer Material, you can only select geometrical objects which are part of the selections of that feature. In most cases, you will then get access to a list of check boxes where you can further limit the contributions to individually selected layers to which this contribution is to be added.
Interface Features
The interface features have a section named Interface Selection. The interface selection can be done by choosing from the following options:
When Selected interfaces is chosen, the Interface list is displayed. You can select
 Any Layered Material Link defined under Materials in the current component.
 Any Layered Material Stack defined under Materials in the current component.
 Any Single Layer Material defined under Materials in the current component.
If you select an individual Layered Material Link, Layered Material Stack, or Single Layer Material, then you can only select geometrical objects which are part of the selections of that feature. In most cases, you will then get access to a list of check boxes where you can further limit the contributions to individually selected interfaces to which this contribution is to be added.
Layer Selections
When a physics feature acts on layers, the interpretations of layer selections are:
This is illustrated in Figure 3-16 to Figure 3-18 where the patch at the lower left is the actual shell, and the 3D sketch shows an expanded view of what it would represent in the physical world.
Figure 3-16: Boundary selection with layers 2 and 5 selected.
Figure 3-17: Edge selection with layers 2 and 5 selected.
Figure 3-18: Point selection with layers 2 and 5 selected.
Interface selections
When a physics feature acts on interfaces, the interpretations of interface selections are:
This is illustrated in Figure 3-19 to Figure 3-21 where the patch at the lower left is the actual shell, and the 3D sketch shows an expanded view of what it would represent in the physical world.
Figure 3-19: Boundary selection with interfaces ‘layer 2 - layer 3’ and ‘layer 5 up’ selected.
Figure 3-20: Edge selection with interfaces ‘layer 2 - layer 3’ and ‘layer 5 up’ selected.
Figure 3-21: Point selection with interfaces ‘layer 2 - layer 3’ and ‘layer 5 up’ selected.