Exploding Plies

This task shows you how generate an offset surface for each ply.

You can:

Be aware that the output surfaces are always datum:
they  are not updated automatically if you modify the input plies.
By-pass: delete them from their contextual menu in the specifications tree,
and restart Ply Exploder on the modified plies groups.

See Using Non Crimp Fabrics for specific information.
Available in Composites Engineering Design (CPE) and Composites Design for Manufacturing (CPM).
Open the PlyExploder1.CATPart document.

  1. Click Ply Exploder   in the Analysis toolbar.
    The Ply Exploder dialog box is displayed.
 

Create a Shell Constant Offset
What is generated when selecting this type of exploded view is a constant offset of the ply shell.
If the shell is not offsetable, no surface is provided for the ply,
therefore no exploded view can be generated.
 

  1. Select Stacking to generate an exploded view of all the plies.
    Cumulative as per Stacking is automatically selected as a type of offset.
You will note that the Plies Groups to Explode frame is disabled as well as the Individual Plies Groups option.
 

  1. Enter a Scale factor by which each ply thickness is multiplied.
    In our example we chose a value of 15mm.

  2. Click OK to generate the offset surfaces.
    The result is an exploded view of each ply contained in the stacking.

    The exploded element is added under each ply in the specification tree.
 

Create a Shell Constant Offset for each Cut-Piece

In case some plies contains cut-pieces, it is possible to create an offset corresponding to the each cut-piece.

  1. Open the PlyExploder2.CATPart document.

  2. Click Ply Exploder  .

  3. Select Take cut-pieces into account in the Ply Exploder dialog box.

  4. Use the default values displayed in the dialog box.

  5. Click OK to validate.
    The offset surfaces of the cut-pieces are created.
 

Create a Shell Constant Offset for Individual Plies Groups

  1. Open again the PlyExploder1.CATPart document.

  2. In the Ply Exploder dialog box, select the values as shown below to generate
    an exploded view of plies groups 1 and 2.

  3. Select the nature of the offset:
    • Cumulative as per Stacking so that all plies are offset sequentially through the stacking
      or
    • Individual Plies Groups so that all the plies belonging to a plies group are offset sequentially
      through the group. The offset value is set back to zero each time the system switches to another plies group.
      In our example we selected Individual Plies Groups.

  4. Enter 10 as scale factor.

  5. Click OK to generate the offset surfaces.

  6. Right-click Plies Group.1.

  7. Select Plies Group.1 object, then Hide/Show 3D contour.

  8. Right-click Plies Group.2.

  9. Select Plies Group.2 object, then Hide/Show 3D contour.
    Now, only the exploded plies are displayed.

  10. Select Plies Group.1 object again, then Hide/Show Exploded Surface.
    The exploded surface of Plies Group.2 only is displayed.
 

Create a Tessellated Constant Offset
What is generated when selecting this type of exploded view is a tessellated surface corresponding
to a constant offset of the ply shell, as when using the Shell constant offset representation.
 

  1. Open again the PlyExploder1.CATPart document.

  2. Click Ply Exploder   in the Analysis toolbar.

  3. In the Ply Exploder dialog box, select Tessellated Constant Offset
    and set the values as shown below.
 
  • The Sag and Step parameters enable you to refine the tessellation:
    • The sag parameter defines the maximum distance between the geometry
      and the triangles making up the tessellated surface,
    • The step parameter defines the maximum size of the triangles making up the tessellated surface.
  • The Core Sample Range parameter defines the depth of the sampling for each point of tessellation
    perpendicular to the shell.
 

  1. Click OK to generate the exploded view.

 

Create a Draped Tessellated Surface
What is generated when selecting this type of exploded view is a draped tessellated surface
corresponding to a variable offset of the ply shell.
An offset of each point of the mesh is generated according to the real value of the core sample,
multiplied by the scale factor.

This view provides a realistic 3D view of the stacking and allows you to create realistic section views in drawings.

  1. Open again the PlyExploder1.CATPart document.

  2. Click Ply Exploder   in the Analysis toolbar.

  3. In the Ply Exploder dialog box, select Draped Constant Offset and set the values as shown below.

  4. Optional: Select the Ignore scale for Cores check box.
    This option is availabe and selectable for Draped Tessellated Surface only.
    (Scale for cores is ignored by other modes)
    The scale factor is not applied to the core when exploding the plies.
    The core thickness remains unchanged, only that of the plies is scaled.

  5. Click OK to generate the exploded view.

    Closer view

    You are now going to create a section view of the part.

  6. To do so, go to the DMU navigator workbench, via Start>Digital Mockup>DMU Navigator.

  7. Copy-paste the Composites part in the DMU Navigator workbench.

  8. Click Sectioning .
    A section plane is defined on the part and a section view is generated.

Create a Draped Tessellated Skin

You can create a draped tessellated skin.
This type of exploded view generates a closed skin that represents all the exploded plies.
For all plies, a draped tessellated surface is generated as described above,
then an offset equal to the scale x ply thickness is applied and triangles are added to create a closed skin.

  1. Open again the PlyExploder1.CATPart document.

  2. Click Ply Exploder   in the Analysis toolbar.

  3. Select Draped Tessellated Skin and set the other values.

  4. Click to generate the exploded view.

    Closer view