COMPOSITE STAR

the database and design software for composite materials

Comosite Star

Table of Contents
Foreword 0

Part I Introduction

1 Welcome ................................................................................................................................... 2 2 Support ................................................................................................................................... 2 3 Literature ................................................................................................................................... 2

Part II Composite Star overview

1 The database ................................................................................................................................... 3 2 The spreadsheet ................................................................................................................................... 4 3 Laminate results ................................................................................................................................... 5 4 The graph................................................................................................................................... 5 engine 5 Units and ................................................................................................................................... 5 display format 6 Settings ................................................................................................................................... 5

Part III Parameter and calculation

1 Coordinate systems ................................................................................................................................... 6 2 Fiber parameter ................................................................................................................................... 7 3 Matrix parameter ................................................................................................................................... 8 4 Ply parameter ................................................................................................................................... 9 5 Laminate................................................................................................................................... 11 parameter 6 Load parameter ................................................................................................................................... 11 7 Laminate................................................................................................................................... 13 results
Results for the entire laminate ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Results for the plies in the laminate ......................................................................................................................................................... 16

Index

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Introduction

1
1.1

Introduction
Welcome
Dear Composite Star user! Despite long debugging sessions there might still be some bugs in the user interface. Please report these bugs to us so that we can eliminate them immediately. However every single calculation result has been cross-checked intensively by several independent methods. The calculation results are reliable. Composite Star is there for you. If you have any suggestions for changes, improvements, additions or new ideas please let us know. We will try to integrate them into the software as soon as possible. Enjoy Composite Star! Christian Laval www.compositestar.com

1.2

Support
If you should need help, want to report a bug or if you have any suggestion please contact us www.compositestar.com

1.3

Literature
Calculating the characteristics of composite laminates is a complex task. Composite Star is a powerfull tool to perform this task. However you will need a basic knowledge of the Classical Laminate Theory. The following literature will help you to get going. in English: Mechanics of Fibrous Composites Carl T. Herakovich John Wiley & Sons ISBN 0-471-10636-4 Mechanics of Composite Materials Robert M. Jones Taylor & Francis ISBN 1-56032-712-X Composite Materials - Mechanical Behaviour and Structural Analysis Jean-Marie Berthelot Springer ISBN 0-387-98426-7 in French:

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Comosite Star Matriaux composites : Comportement mcanique et analyse des structures Jean-Marie Berthelot Tec & Doc Lavoisier ISBN 2743007710 Matriaux composites Daniel Gay Hermes ISBN 286601586X in German: Konstruieren mit Faser-Kunststoff-Verbunden Helmut Schrmann Springer ISBN 3540721894

2
2.1

Composite Star overview

The database
Composite Star has a database which contains all necessary data of the fibres, matrices, plies, laminates and loads. Database file The database is stored in a file. Database files have the extension CDB. Via the menu FILE you can create, load and save a database. In the status bar at the bottom of the main Composite Star window you can see the file name and path of the currently loaded database. It also informs you if the data have been modified. The file SampleData.CDB is an example database file. Grid functionality The data of the database can be accessed by grids. You can right click with the mouse on the grid. A popup menu will give you the possibility to add, delete, cut, copy and paste a data record. You can use SHIFT or CNTRL click to select several data records. Furthermore the VIEW command let you choose which parameter are displayed in the grid. By clicking on the column headers in the grid you can sort the records. SHIFT click allows you sorting by multiple columns. CNTRL click turns sorting off. By clicking and dragging the headers above the column headers you can change the layout of the grid. With the command SHOW IN WEB BROWSER you can display the grid in your web browser. Like this you can print the grid. With the command SAVE GRID AS you can export the grid as tab separated text (can be read by Excel), as HTML (can be read by a web browser or can be inserted as table in Word) or XML. The laminate structure table grid has additional functionality. You can select records and move them into another position by dragging them with the mouse. You can copy and paste or move structure records from one laminate record to another.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Composite Star overview

2.2

The spreadsheet
Composite Star has s build in spreadsheet. You can use data from the database in the spreadsheet. Simply use the function DATABASE in a cell. The syntax is: =DATABASE("variable name", record ID) Example: The cell entry =DATABASE("Fiber_Density", 3) returns the density of the fiber with record ID 3. The menu item SPREADSHEET/DATABASE FUNCTION LIST displays a list of possible variables. You can also overwrite data from the database before it goes into the calculation. To do this enter the variable name in a cell (without =). In the next cell to the right enter the number of the ply in the laminate stack (not necessary for the loads). In the next cell to the right enter the value you would like to set for this parameter. Example: To set the angle of ply 5 in the laminate stack to 45 use the following cell entries: Ply_Angle | next cell to the right: 5 | next cell to the right: 45. The menu item SPREADSHEET/DATABASE FUNCTION LIST displays a list of possible functions. To consider the spreadsheet in the laminate calculation the USE SPREADSHEET check box on the LAMINATE RESULTS page has to be checked.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Comosite Star

2.3

Laminate results
The calculation results are displayed in the laminate results window. On the top of this window you can choose the laminate and the load for which you want to see the results. You can change the data in the corresponding ply, laminate and load table. After your finished editing the values update the laminate result window by pressing the update button .

Right clicking on the display grids will open a popup menu. The VIEW command let you choose which parameter are displayed in the grid. For a description of the different parameter see paragraph "Laminate results".

2.4

The graph engine

The graph engine allows you display different graphs. You can select the graph type as well as what parameter to display on the left side of the graph engine window. If you change the data in corresponding ply, laminate and load table you can update the graph by pressing the update button 2D graphs have the following functionality: To zoom in press the left mouse button at the top left hand corner of the area you wish to zoom in on. With the mouse button pressed drag out the rectangle to the bottom right hand corner of the zoom area. Releasing the mouse button will zoom in on the select area. To undo the zoom press the left mouse button anywhere on the graph area and drag up and left. To pan the graph click the right mouse button. With the mouse button pressed moving the mouse will pan the graph. .

2.5

Units and display format

You can set the units and display formats for each parameter individually. Press the units and display format button to open the units and display format window. Changing settings will immediately update the parameter in all windows.

2.6

Settings
You can save and load the current display settings (units and display formats, grid layout, ...) via the menu FILE. When you close Composite Star the settings of the last session will be stored in the file CStarSettings. When you start Composite Star and the file CStarSettings exists the program will automatically load the last session settings.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation

3
3.1

Parameter and calculation

Coordinate systems
Two coordinates systems are used: 1. the ply coordinate system (1, 2, 3) 1 = fiber direction 2 = in ply plane perpendicular to the fiber direction 3 = perpendicular to the ply plane (positive downward) 2. the laminate coordinate system (x, y, z) x, y = coordinates in the laminate plane z = perpendicular to the laminate plane (positive downward) The angle a is the angle of the ply's fiber orientation in the laminate.

Parameter in the ply coordinate system are index with 1, 2 or 3. Parameter in the laminate coordinate system are indexed with x, y or z. The plies in the laminate are numbered from top to bottom:

t = laminate thickness

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Comosite Star t2 = thickness of ply 2 z2 = z position of the midplane of ply 2 The z coordinate of the laminate has its origin in the laminate midplane (centered between the top and bottom surfaces) and is positive downward.

3.2

Fiber parameter
The fiber table of the database contains the following parameter: General parameter ID Name Density Diameter description Composite Star automatically assigns each database record an unique identification number (cannot be changed) the fiber's name the fiber's density the diameter of the fiber's cross section

Engineering parameter E1, E2 G12, G23 Nu12, Nu23 description Youngs's moduli shear moduli Poisson's ratios

Failure stresses/strains parameter input as Xt, Xc description the strength of the fiber can be entered as ultimate stresses or as ultimate strains ultimate stress or strain in fiber direction (t = tension, c = compression)

Expansion parameter Alpha 1, 2 Beta 1, 2 description coefficients of thermal expansion coefficients of hygroscopic expansion

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation

3.3

Matrix parameter
The matrix table of the database contains the following parameter: General parameter ID Name Density description Composite Star automatically assigns each database record an unique identification number (cannot be changed) the matrix name the matrix density

Engineering parameter E G Nu description Youngs's moduli shear moduli Poisson's ratios

Failure stresses/strains parameter input as Xt, Xc S description the strength of the fiber can be entered as ultimate stresses or as ultimate strains ultimate stress or strain in fiber direction (t = tension, c = compression) ultimate shear stress or strain

Expansion parameter Alpha Beta description coefficient of thermal expansion coefficient of hygroscopic expansion

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Comosite Star

3.4

Ply parameter
The ply table of the database contains the following parameter: General parameter ID Name Micromechanics Fiber ID Fiber name Matrix ID Matrix name Fraction type description Composite Star automatically assigns each database record an unique identification number (cannot be changed) the ply's name yes: the ply's parameter are calculated by micromechanics no: enter the ply's parameter manually identification number of the fiber used in the ply (only if Micromechanics=yes) name of the fiber used in the ply (only if Micromechanics=yes) identification number of the matrix used in the ply (only if Micromechanics=yes) name of the matrix used in the ply (only if Micromechanics=yes) the ratio fiber/matrix in the ply can be entered as fiber volume fraction, matrix volume faction, fiber mass fraction or matrix mass fraction the amount of the fraction the ply's thickness (see also the thickness in laminate parameter) the ply's density

Fraction amount Thickness Density

Engineering parameter E1, E2, E3 G12, G13, G23 Nu12, Nu13, Nu23 description Youngs's moduli shear moduli Poisson's ratios

Failure stresses/strains

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation parameter input as Xt, Xc Yt, Yc description

10

Zt, Zc S R Q

the strength of the ply can be entered as ultimate stresses or as ultimate strains ultimate stress or strain in fiber direction (ply coordinate 1) (t = tension, c = compression) ultimate stress or strain in plane perpendicular to the fiber direction (ply coordinate 2) (t = tension, c = compression) ultimate stress or strain out of plane (ply coordinate 3) (t = tension, c = compression) in-plane ultimate shear stress or strain in the ply's 1,2 directions out-of-plane ultimate shear stress or strain in the ply's 1,3 directions out-of-plane ultimate shear stress or strain in the ply's 2,3 directions

Failure criterion parameter p12+, p12-, p22+ F12 description adaptation parameter for the Puck failure criterion adaptation parameter for the Tsai-Wu failure criterion

Degradation parameter EtaR, a, Ksi E1, E2, G12, Nu12, n for Xc (IFF) description parameter for the Puck degradation model for failure process calculation after first ply failure degradation factors for the Tsai degradation model in case of inter fiber failure (IFF) After IFF the ply's engineering parameter are multiplied by these degradation factors smaller than 1. Furthermore the compressive strength of the ply is reduced to Xc*(degradtion factor for G12)^n. degradation factors for the Tsai degradation model in case of fiber failure (FF) After FF the ply's engineering parameter are multiplied by these degradation factors smaller than 1. Furthermore the compressive strength of the ply is reduced to Xc*(degradtion factor for G12)^n.

E1, E2, G12, Nu12, n for Xc (FF)

Expansion parameter Alpha 1, 2, 3 Beta 1, 2, 3 description coefficients of thermal expansion coefficients of hygroscopic expansion

Micromechanics options You can choose which micromechanics theory should be used to calculate different parameters.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

11

Comosite Star Fraction calculator This tool allows you to convert the different types of fiber or matrix fractions.

3.5

Laminate parameter
The laminate table of database contains the following parameter:

parameter ID Name

description Composite Star automatically assigns each database record an unique identification number (cannot be changed) the laminate's name

With the + buttons you can open or close the laminate's structure table which defines the stacking sequence of the laminate. The structure table contain the following parameter:

parameter # Ply ID Name Angle Thickness

description number of the ply in the laminate stack the ply's unique identification number the ply's name the angle of the ply's fiber direction the ply's thickness This is the thickness which is used for the laminate calculation. When you create a new ply or change the ply in the laminate stack the thickness value is copied from the ply table of the database. After that you can change it at any time. This has no influence on the thickness values in the database's ply table.

3.6

Load parameter
Composite Star defines constant loads and variable loads. In general the constant load is used for thermal loads due to temperature changes (operating temperature is different from the curing temperature) or hygroscopic loads due to moisture content changes (matrix material absorbs moisture after curing). The variable load is used for an external mechanical load. This allows you to answer the question "How far can I increase, under a given constant thermal or hygroscopic load, the external load until failure occurs?". To calculate this reserve factor the term is used in the failure criterion equations. To answer the question "How far can I change, under a given constant external load, the operating temperature until failure occurs?" you can use the constant load for the external mechanical load and the variable load for the hygrothermal load. The following figure shows the constant, variable and total stress vectors together with the failure envelop in a (s2,t12) plane of the stress space.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation

12

point 1: failure point of the vector point 2: failure point of the total vector point 3: failure point of the constant vector point 4: failure point of the variable vector The load table of the database contains the following parameter: External const / External var parameter ID Name load type N, M Eps0, Kappa Sigma 0, Sigma flex description Composite Star automatically assigns each database record an unique identification number (cannot be changed) the load's name you can enter an external mechanical load in 3 ways forces and moments per unit length midplane strain and curvatures normalized stresses

Hygrothermal const / Hygrothermal var

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

13

Comosite Star parameter delta T top delta T bottom delta M top delta M bottom description temperature change at the top of the laminate temperature change at the bottom of the laminate moisture content change at the top of the laminate moisture content change at the bottom of the laminate

The distribution of the temperature/moisture content is assumed to be linear between top and bottom.

3.7

Laminate results
The laminate results window displays results for the entire laminate as well as the results for each ply in the laminate.

3.7.1

Results for the entire laminate

Composite Star calculates the following parameter for the laminate: General parameter Number of plies Thickness Density Load factor description the number of plies in the laminate the laminate's total thickness the laminate's density the current load factor for the variable part of the load as entered in the upper right corner of the window

Engineering parameter Ex, Ey in-plane Gxy in-plane Nuxy, Nuyx in-plane description in-plane Young's moduli in-plane shear modulus in-plane Poisson ratios

Etaxy_x, Etaxy_y, Etax_xy, in-plane coefficients of mutual influence (Lekhnitskii's coefficients) Etay_xy in-plane Ex, Ey flexural flexural Young's moduli Gxy flexural Nuxy, Nuyx flexural flexural shear modulus flexural Poisson ratios

Etaxy_x, Etaxy_y, Etax_xy, flexural coefficients of mutual influence (Lekhnitskii's coefficients) Etay_xy flexural Nuxz, Nuyz out-of-plane out-of-plane (through-thickness) Poisson ratios Gxz, Gyz out-of-plane out-of-plane (through-thickness) shear moduli

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation Expansion parameter Alpha x, y, xy in-plane Alpha x, y, xy flexural Beta x, y, xy in-plane Beta x, y, xy flexural Alpha z out-of-plane Beta z out-of-plane description in-plane coefficient of thermal expansion flexural coefficient of thermal expansion in-plane coefficient of hygroscopic expansion flexural coefficient of hygroscopic expansion

14

out-of-plane (through-thickness) coefficient of thermal expansion out-of-plane (through-thickness) coefficient of hygroscopic expansion

Matrix parameter A B D F a b c d f description in-plane stiffness matrix coupling stiffness matrix flexural stiffness matrix out-of-plane shear stiffness matrix in-plane compliance matrix coupling compliance matrix transposed coupling compliance matrix flexural compliance matrix out-of-plane shear compliance matrix

The above matrices build the following equations:

Note: For balanced symmetric laminates the bending-extension coupling matrix B is zero. There is no relationship between bending and extension of the laminate. The check box at the bottom left corner of the laminate results window allows you to set the matrix B to zero for non balanced symmetric laminates. N, M

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

15

Comosite Star parameter N mechanical M mechanical N thermal M thermal N hygroscopic M hygroscopic N m+t+h M m+t+h description mechanical forces per unit length mechanical moments per unit length equivalent thermal forces per unit length equivalent thermal moments per unit length equivalent hygroscopic forces per unit length equivalent hygroscopic moments per unit length mechanical + equivalent thermal + equivalent hygroscopic forces per unit length mechanical + equivalent thermal + equivalent hygroscopic moments per unit length

The above parameter exist for the constant, the variable and total (constant+variable) load. Epsilon 0, Kappa parameter Epsilon 0 mechanical Kappa mechanical Epsilon 0 thermal Kappa thermal Epsilon 0 hygroscopic Kappa hygroscopic Epsilon 0 m+t+h Kappa m+t+h description mechanical midplane strains mechanical curvatures equivalent thermal midplane strains equivalent thermal curvatures equivalent hygroscopic midplane strains equivalent hygroscopic curvatures mechanical + equivalent thermal + equivalent hygroscopic midplane strains mechanical + equivalent thermal + equivalent hygroscopic curvatures

The above parameter exist for the constant, the variable and total (constant+variable) load. Sigma 0, Sigma 0 flex

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation parameter Sigma 0 mechanical Sigma flex mechanical Sigma 0 thermal Sigma flex thermal Sigma 0 hygroscopic Sigma flex hygroscopic Sigma 0 m+t+h Sigma flex m+t+h description mechanical normalized stresses mechanical normalized flexural stresses equivalent thermal normalized stresses equivalent thermal normalized flexural stresses equivalent hygroscopic normalized stresses equivalent hygroscopic normalized flexural stresses mechanical + equivalent thermal + equivalent hygroscopic normalized stresses mechanical + equivalent thermal + equivalent hygroscopic normalized flexural stresses

16

The above parameter exist for the constant, the variable and total (constant+variable) load.

3.7.2

Results for the plies in the laminate

Composite Star calculates the following parameter for each ply in the laminate: General parameter # Name Angle Thickness Z coordinate in laminate Density description number of the ply in the laminate stack the ply's name the angle of the ply's fiber direction the ply's thickness the Z coordinate of the ply's top, middle and bottom in the laminate the ply's density

Engineering parameter E1, E2, E3 Ex, Ey G12, G13, G23 Gxy Nu12, Nu13, Nu23 Nuxy, Nuyx description Youngs's moduli in ply coordinates Youngs's moduli in laminate coordinates shear moduli in ply coordinates shear modulus in laminate coordinates Poisson's ratios in ply coordinates Poisson's ratios in laminate coordinates

Etaxy_x, Etaxy_y, Etax_xy, coefficients of mutual influence (Lekhnitskii's coefficients) in Etay_xy laminate coordinates

Failure stresses/strains

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

17

Comosite Star parameter Xt, Xc Yt, Yc description ultimate stress or strain in fiber direction (ply coordinate 1) (t = tension, c = compression) ultimate stress or strain in plane perpendicular to the fiber direction (ply coordinate 2) (t = tension, c = compression) ultimate stress or strain out of plane (ply coordinate 3) (t = tension, c = compression) in-plane ultimate shear stress or strain in the ply's 1,2 directions out-of-plane ultimate shear stress or strain in the ply's 1,3 directions out-of-plane ultimate shear stress or strain in the ply's 2,3 directions

Zt, Zc S R Q

Expansion parameter Alpha 1, 2, 3 Beta 1, 2, 3 Alpha x, y, xy, z Beta x, y, xy, z description coefficients of thermal expansion in ply coordinates coefficients of hygroscopic expansion in ply coordinates coefficients of thermal expansion in laminate coordinates coefficients of hygroscopic expansion in laminate coordinates

Matrix parameter C (ply directions) S (ply directions) Q (ply directions) S reduced (ply directions) C (laminate directions) S (laminate directions) Q (laminate directions) S reduced (laminate directions) description stiffness matrix in ply coordinates compliance matrix in ply coordinates reduced stiffness matrix in ply coordinates reduced compliance matrix in ply coordinates stiffness matrix in laminate coordinates compliance matrix in laminate coordinates reduced stiffness matrix in laminate coordinates reduced compliance matrix in laminate coordinates

Transformation

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation parameter T sigma inv. T sigma T epsilon inv. T epsilon T sigma reduced inv. T sigma reduced T epsilon reduced inv. T epsilon reduced description transformation matrix for stresses inverse of T sigma transformation matrix for strains inverse of T epsilon reduced transformation matrix for stresses inverse of T sigma reduced reduced transformation matrix for strains inverse of T epsilon reduced

18

Strain parameter Epsilon m+t+h Epsilon mechanical Epsilon thermal Epsilon hygroscopic Epsilon thermal free Epsilon hygroscopic free description mechanical + thermal + hygroscopic strains mechanical strains thermal strains hygroscopic strains free thermal strains free hygroscopic strains

The above parameter can be displayed - in ply directions 1, 2, 12 and in laminate directions x, y, xy - for the constant, the variable and total (constant+variable) load - for the top, middle or bottom of the ply Stress parameter Sigma m+t+h Sigma mechanical Sigma thermal Sigma hygroscopic description mechanical + thermal + hygroscopic stresses mechanical stresses thermal stresses hygroscopic stresses

The above parameter can be displayed - in ply directions 1, 2, 12 and in laminate directions x, y, xy - for the constant, the variable and total (constant+variable) load - for the top, middle or bottom of the ply Failure results On the bottom of the window you can choose: - different failure criteria (not all failure criteria can predict failure modes, fracture angles or wedge

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

19

Comosite Star effects) - which plane in the ply should be considered for the calculation of the critical plies and failure process (Don't confuse this option with the top, middle, bottom check box options in the VIEW window. They only influence the display. This option however influence the critical ply and failure process calculation. To see results correctly make sure that the ply plane selected in the calculation option is also check in the view option.)

parameter Effort constant + Rf * variable constant alone variable alone total alone

description effort of the total stress vector (constant + variable) = 1/Rf failure result for the constant and variable stress vector (point 1 in the figure beneath) failure result for the constant stress vector alone (point 3 in the figure beneath) failure result for the variable stress vector alone (point 4 in the figure beneath) failure result for the total stress vector alone (point 2 in the figure beneath)

The failure results consists of the following parameter: parameter Rf 1/Rf mode critical fracture angle wedge description reserve factor inverse of the reserve factor failure mode X marks the critical plies in the laminate fracture plane angle for inter fiber failure (Puck Action Plane Criterion only) X marks plies that can cause catastrophic wedge effects (fracture plane angle > 30) (Puck Action Plane Criterion only)

The failure results can be displayed for the top, middle or bottom of the ply.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

Parameter and calculation

20

point 1: failure point of the vector point 2: failure point of the total vector point 3: failure point of the constant vector point 4: failure point of the variable vector

Failure process calculation, degradation and the load factor You can choose 3 different calculation modes with the CALCULATE UNTIL selection box at the bottom of the window: first failure In failure results you can see when and where the first failure (inter fiber failure or fiber failure) occurs. There is no calculation of the failure process i.e. subsequent failures after the first failure. This is the fastest calculation mode. first fiber failure After the first failure subsequent failures are calculated by increasing the variable part of the load step by step and degrading the failed plies until the first fiber failure occurs. They are displayed in the FAILURE PROCESS tab. This calculation mode is much more time consuming specially for laminates with a large number of plies. last ply failed The calculation of the failure process continues until all plies have fiber failure. This calculation mode is the most time consuming. The selection box FAILURE PROCESS at the bottom of the window allows you to choose how the

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.

21

Comosite Star failure process is calculated. You can choose between the theories and degradation models of Tsai and Puck. The failure process calculation is of course also influenced by the choice of the failure criterion and the considered planes (see failure results above). In the upper right corner of the window you can enter a load factor (SHOW LAMINATE AT LAOD FACTOR). The variable part of the used load is multiplied with this load factor. If no failure process is calculated (CALCULATE UNTIL: FIRST FAILURE) the strains and stresses in the plies as well as the failure results for the intact laminate are recalculated according to the load factor. If the failure process is calculated (CALCULATE UNTIL: FIRST FIBER FAILURE or LAST PLY FAILED) the laminate properties as well as the distribution of the strains and stresses in the laminate changes after the first failure due to the degradation of the failed plies. This means that the laminate is different for each load bigger than the first failure load. The load factor allows you to display the changed laminate for any load. Failure process parameter parameter # Load factor Ply # Ply name Ply angle Mode Positions Wedge description number of the failure the load factor at which the failure occurs the laminate stack position of the ply where the failure occurs the name of the ply where the failure occurs the angle of the ply where the failure occurs the failure mode the position(s) in the ply where the failure occurs (bottom, middle, top) X marks plies that can cause catastrophic wedge effects (fracture plane angle > 30) (Puck Action Plane Criterion only)

Degradation parameter This tab show you by which factor the engineering constants of the different plies are reduced. The factors are all 1 for a load factor smaller than the first failure laod. Beyond the first failure laod the plies are degraded after they failed.

2008 ... MATERIAL S.A.