Capabilities / 02.6

Take the laminate into
a structural study.

Choose the structural question, then connect the laminate to the appropriate study. In the Virtual Test Lab, mount a composite specimen and follow its calculated force, displacement and response.

Workbench Response stress view with global component curves across the laminate thickness — Through-thickness stress plots distinguish ply-level component response. This capture illustrates the CLT view, not an FSDT benchmark.
Workbench capture · September 6, 2026. This capture shows the interface with demo data. It is not a new solver run or a validation certificate. Control locations may differ in later releases.

Which load direction governs?
First-ply initiation envelopes compare five criteria in a mechanical-only teaching case. Sampled rays are not a converged design envelope.

What happens after first-ply failure?
Progressive ramp with maximum-stress initiation and teaching retained-property defaults. Load factor is not time; these strengths are not qualified allowables.

02.6 / How to use it

What to set, compare and check

Watch the specimen under load

Use the mounted specimen and connected equipment with virtual instrument playback. ASTM D3039-based tension and D7264-based flexure provide guided entry points; axial coupon playback connects eligible progressive-failure results.

Plate and beam response

Use the released CLT/FSDT finite-plate or membrane/beam path with compatible dimensions, loads and supports. Buckling, modal and static bending are distinct study choices.

Cylinder formulations

Thin-wall membrane and layerwise thick-wall elasticity have different load and process limits. Donnell axial buckling is a separate thin-shell study with an explicit knockdown factor.

Sections and joints

Layerwise sections, lap joints and sandwich bending have their own geometry and interfaces. The analytical Volkersen / Goland–Reissner study is a separate identical-adherend elastic approximation.

Failure and notches

The five existing criteria support eligible CLT first-ply / progressive calculations. LaRC04 linear-shear initiation and calibrated open-hole strength are separate studies, not additional progressive choices.

Fatigue

S–N models predict life from calibrated data. Residual stiffness / strength requires independently fitted retention laws in its separate study; neither automatically changes optimization properties.

Creep, shape and uncertainty

Use reference-state studies to explore time response, prescribed-eigenstrain free release and bounded ABD sampling. Check the scope, inputs and output handoffs listed below before carrying a result forward.

Check the result before using it

After changing relevant inputs, rerun the selected Simulation. Check the assumptions, stale-result warnings, convergence and calibration before using the result.

Explore the models, connections and theory →

What to check and where it applies

Compatibility and model licensing are checked for the selected Simulation.
Finite-plate, thick-wall cylinder and reference-state analytical studies have distinct assumptions.
Reduced center-impact and center-indentation studies use thin symmetric orthotropic plates with explicit contact calibration. Ballistic penetration and general 3D finite-element solves remain outside this scope.
Teaching inputs and software checks do not establish experimentally qualified allowables.

Wing skins, spars, and ribs plus a wound composite tube represent plate, pressure, torsion, and axial-load analyses.

Controls and workflow details · 6 features

Plate CLT/FSDT, membrane/beam and Euler studies
Thin-wall and layerwise cylinder models; separate Donnell buckling
Layerwise sections, lap joints, sandwich bending and supported cohesive growth
Five existing criteria, separate LaRC04 initiation and open-hole strength
Calibrated S–N and separate residual-property fatigue
Axial creep / relaxation, prescribed-eigenstrain tool release and bounded uncertainty

Next capability02.7 Engineering results & automation