1/30/2020 2012 SOLIDWORKS Help - Isotropic and Orthotropic Materials

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Introduction
Isotropic and Orthotropic Materials
Administration

User Interface
Isotropic Materials
SolidWorks Fundamentals
A material is isotropic if its mechanical and thermal properties are
Moving from 2D to 3D
the same in all directions. Isotropic materials can have a
Assemblies
homogeneous or non-homogeneous microscopic structures. For
CircuitWorks example, steel demonstrates isotropic behavior, although its
Configurations microscopic structure is non-homogeneous.

SolidWorks Costing

Design Checker
Orthotropic Materials
Design Studies in SolidWorks
A material is orthotropic if its mechanical or thermal properties are
unique and independent in three mutually perpendicular directions.
Drawings and Detailing
Examples of orthotropic materials are wood, many crystals, and
DFMXpress
rolled metals.
DriveWorksXpress
For example, the mechanical properties of wood at a point are
FloXpress
described in the longitudinal, radial, and tangential directions. The
Import and Export longitudinal axis (1) is parallel to the grain (fiber) direction; the
Large Scale Design radial axis (2) is normal to the growth rings; and the tangential axis

Model Display (3) is tangent to the growth rings.

Mold Design

Motion Studies

Parts and Features

Routing

Sheet Metal

Simulation
Welcome to SolidWorks Simulation
Online Help
Access to Help
Conventions
Legal Notices

Analysis Background
Defining Orthotropic Properties For Solids
Simulation Fundamentals
The orthotropic material directions throughout a component are
Simulation Options
defined based on the reference geometry selected. If a part is
Simulation Studies
manufactured such that this is not true, then you should model it as
Design Studies different parts in order to define orthotropic directions properly. For
2D Simplification Study example, consider the part shown in the figure:

Composite Shells
Loads and Restraints
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1/30/2020 2012 SOLIDWORKS Help - Isotropic and Orthotropic Materials

Meshing

Material Properties

Assigning Materials
Applying a Material
Removing a Material

Creating a Custom Material

Creating a Material Library

Managing Favorite Materials
You need to model this part as two parts; the cylinder and the planar
Using Drag and Drop to Define
Materials sheet. You can then use a plane as the reference geometry for
Material Properties Used in defining the orthotropic material directions for the planar sheet and
SolidWorks Simulation
Isotropic and Orthotropic the axis of the cylinder as the reference geometry for the cylinder.
Materials
Temperature - Dependent Material
Properties
Defining Stress-Strain Curves

Material Dialog Box

Material Models

Parameters

Analysis Library

Viewing Results

Study Reports

Checking Stress Results

SimulationXpress

Sketching

Sustainability Products

SolidWorks Utilities

Tolerancing

Toolbox
The X, Y, and Z directions for an orthotropic material when a plane The radia
Weldments
is used as a reference geometry. orthotrop
Workgroup PDM
geometry
Troubleshooting

Glossary
Defining Orthotropic Properties For Shells
For a planar shell, select a plane that is parallel to the shell as the
reference geometry. The X and Y axes lie in the plane and the Z-axis
is normal to the plane. For a cylindrical shell, select the axis of the
cylinder as the reference geometry. The Y-axis is parallel to the axis
of the cylinder and the X-axis is tangential.

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1/30/2020 2012 SOLIDWORKS Help - Isotropic and Orthotropic Materials

The X, Y, and Z directions of an orthotropic The X and Y directions of

material for a planar shell. material for a cylindrical s

For composite shells, the X, Y and Z directions for orthotropic

material definition are defined differently for each ply depending on
ply angle. Reference geometry is not considered for orthotropic
material definition.

In general, the software modifies the reference geometry as follows:

The software transforms the coordinate system defined by the

reference geometry such that the Z-axis becomes normal to the
plane of the shell. The plane of the shell is defined by the 3
corner nodes.

If the angle between the X-axis of the selected reference

geometry and the normal to the shell plane is larger than 45o,
the program projects the X-axis of the reference geometry on
the shell plane to define the modified X-axis.

If the angle between the X-axis of the selected reference

geometry and the normal to the shell plane is less than 45o, the
program projects the Y-axis of the reference geometry on the
shell plane to define the modified X-axis.

The Y-axis of the modified reference geometry is then defined to

complete a right-hand Cartesian coordinate system.

To define orthotropic material:

Search 'Isotropic and Orthotropic Materials' in the SOLIDWORKS Kno

5.77.89

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