Chapter 6: Laminated Strip under Three-point Bending

Laminated Strip under

6 Three-point Bending


Summary 110

Introduction 111

Requested Solutions 111

FEM Solution 111

Modeling Tips 113

Input File(s) 113

Video 114
110 MD Demonstration Problems
CHAPTER 6

Summary
Title Chapter 6: Laminated Strip under Three-point Bending
Geometry 2-D Shell (units: mm)
C
0o fiber direction 0.1 0o
0.1 90o
0.1 0o
y
10 0.4 90o
x
0.1 0o
10 15 15 10 0.1 90oo D
0.1 0
10 N/mm E
z C

1 all dimensions in mm
x E
A B

Material properties
E 1 = 100GPa  12 = 0.4 G 12 = 3GPa
E 2 = 5GPa G 13 = 2GPa
E 3 = 5GPa G 23 = 2GPa

Analysis type Quasi-static analysis

Boundary conditions Three-point bending test
Applied loads Line load of 10N  m m
Element type • 2-D shell
• 3-D solid composite
FE results  11  13 u z Compared with NAFEMS solution

CHEXA
CQUAD4 CQUAD4 CHEXA
Quantity Units NAFEMS PCOMPLS
linear PSHLN1 PCOMPLS-L
-ASTN

 11 at E MPa 684 683 683 685 664

 13 at D MPa -4.1 -4.1 -4.1 -4.1 -4.2

u z at E mm -1.06 -1.06 -1.06 -1.06 -1.02

 CHAPTER 6 111
Laminated Strip under Three-point Bending

Introduction
This problem demonstrates the ability to model composite laminated material both using shell and solid elements. A
laminated strip is subjected to a three-point bending test, due to symmetry only a quarter of the structure needs to be
modeled. Stresses and displacements are computed and compared to a reference solution.

Requested Solutions
The stresses and displacements of a composite laminated strip under three-point bending configuration are calculated
in MD Nastran. This test is recommended by the National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards (U.K.):
Test R0031/1 from NAFEMS publication R0031, “Composites Benchmarks”, February 1995.

FEM Solution
A numerical solution has been obtained with MD Nastran’s solution sequence 400 for the configuration shown in
Figure 6-1. The composite strip comprises seven lamina, with lamina thicknesses and orientation as shown in the
figure. Only one quarter of the structure is modeled using symmetry conditions along the mid span and center of the
longitudinal direction. Each lamina is modeled as one layer is the composite. For the model using shell elements, this
is done using the PCOMP entry
PCOMP 1 0. 0.
1 .00001 0. YES 1 .09999 0. YES
1 .1 90. YES 1 .1 0. YES
1 .4 90. YES 1 .1 0. YES
1 .1 90. YES 1 .09999 0. YES
1 .00001 0. YES

C
o
0o fiber direction 0.1 0o
0.1 90
o
0.1 0
y
10 0.4 90
o

x
o
0.1 0o
10 15 15 10 0.1 90 D
o
0.1 0
10 N/mm E
z C

1 all dimensions in mm
x E
A B

Figure 6-1 Laminated Strip in a Three-point Bending Configuration

112 MD Demonstration Problems
CHAPTER 6

For the model using composite brick elements, this is done using the PCOMPLS entry. Please note that the layer
orientation is defined relative to the coordinate system defined in the CORDM field of this entry.
PCOMPLS 1 1 1
C8 SLCOMP L
9 1 .00001 0.
8 1 .09999 0.
7 1 .1 90.
6 1 .1 0.
5 1 .4 90.
4 1 .1 0.
3 1 .1 90.
2 1 .09999 0.
1 1 .00001 0.

For the model using solid shell elements this is done using the PCOMPLS entry
PCOMPLS 1 1 1
C8 SLCOMP ASTN
9 1 .00001 0.
8 1 .09999 0.
7 1 .1 90.
6 1 .1 0.
5 1 .4 90.
4 1 .1 0.
3 1 .1 90.
2 1 .09999 0.
1 1 .00001 0.

Note that in these models two very thin extra layers are added, they have the same properties as the layer they are
connected to. These two layers are added to calculate the stress mentioned in the reference table (Table 6-1) at the
correct position.

Table 6-1 Laminated Strip under Three-point Bending

CHEXA CHEXA
CQUAD4 CQUAD4 PCOMPLS PCOMPLS
Quantity Units NAFEMS linear PSHLN1
-ASTN -L
 11 at E MPa 684 683 683 685 664

 13 at D MPa -4.1 -4.1 -4.1 -4.1 -4.2

u z at E mm -1.06 -1.06 -1.06 -1.06 -1.02

The material is orthotropic, with the following properties:

E 1 = 100GPa  12 = 0.4 G 12 = 3GPa

E 2 = 5GPa  23 = 0.3 G 13 = 2GPa
E 3 = 5GPa  31 = 0.02 G 23 = 2GPa

For the model using the shell elements this is defined as

MAT8 1 100000. 5000. .4 3000. 3000. 2000. 1.-4
 CHAPTER 6 113
Laminated Strip under Three-point Bending

And for the model using the solid composite elements this is defined as
MATORT 1 100000. 5000. 5000. .4 .3 .02 1.-4
3000. 2000. 2000.
-1

Two types of shell elements are analyzed. The default CQUAD4 and the CQUAD4 suitable for large deformations.
The latter is activated using the PSHLN1 entry
PSHLN1 1 NO +
+ C4 DCT L

For analysis of shell-like structure with composite material, the TSHEAR option on the NLMOPTS entry has to be given
to obtain a parabolic transverse shear distribution across the thickness of the element.
NLMOPTS TSHEAR TSHEAR

A line pressure of 10N  mm is applied, this pressure is translated to point loads on the finite element mesh.

Table 6-1 compares the results of the different models with the reference solution, the data is taken from the f06 file.
The stress at E is linearly interpolated from the centroid of the first two elements close to the symmetric line.

Modeling Tips
When modeling composite structures that support large deformation and nonlinear material behavior (activated with
the PSHLN1 or PCOMPLS entry) it is recommended to set the TSHEAR parameter on the NLMOPTS entry. This will
result in a more parabolic shear distribution through the thickness, and in the output of interlaminar stresses. When
using CHEXA elements for analysis of shell-like structure under bending deformation, it is recommended to use solid
shell elements instead of linear composite brick elements.

Input File(s)
File Description
nug_06n.dat Linear Elements
nug_06m.dat Linear Elements using PSHLN1 entry
nug_06c.dat Linear Composite Elements
nug_06d.dat Solid Shell Elements
114 MD Demonstration Problems
CHAPTER 6

Video
Click on the image or caption below to view a streaming video of this problem; it lasts approximately 30 minutes and
explains how the steps are performed.

C
o
0o fiber direction 0.1 0o
0.1 90o
0.1 0
y
10 0.4 90o
x
o
0.1 0
10 15 15 10 0.1 90oo D
0.1 0
10 N/mm E
z C

1 all dimensions in mm
x E
A B

Figure 6-2 Video of the Above Steps