Center for Composite Materials

04.3 / CDS User Guide

Create and manage
material records.

A practical guide to adding, editing, organizing, duplicating, and safely deleting materials.

Complete manuals · download a whole collection

Each collection includes an editable Word manual and its matching searchable PDF, with linked contents, explanatory text, diagrams and references. Theory equations use native Word mathematics. Individual-page PDF buttons remain available.

Complete User Guide148 pages · 10 chapters · Updated 2026-09-18
↓ PDF↓ Word
Getting Started Handbook139 pages · 8 chapters · Updated 2026-09-18
↓ PDF↓ Word
Training & Exercise Manual386 pages · 115 chapters · all 104 exercises · Updated 2026-09-18
↓ PDF↓ Word
Complete Theory Manual255 pages · 56 chapters · Updated 2026-09-18
↓ PDF↓ Word
Models & Workflow Manual85 pages · 9 chapters · Updated 2026-09-18
↓ PDF↓ Word

These are dated reading editions of the public learning content. Interactive studies and account-controlled classroom notes and databases stay online. For current changes, follow the chapter links back to the website.

Current Workbench, reference editions and downloads

Use the online User Guide for current controls, the released model directory for selectable models and compatibility, and the Training Manual for connected exercises. Wider theory references do not mean every formulation is enabled in Workbench.

Dated GUI captures and compiled Web r18 PDF manuals retain their stated scope; they are not a substitute for current hosted Workbench instructions. Find the overview PDF, guides and exercise databases in Your CDS library.

All exercises, case studies and simulation examples → · Your CDS library: overview, manuals and database downloads →

01

Research and import materials with ChatGPT

In Workbench, choose Material → Find / Import with AI. This is a local review workflow, not an automatic web-search or PDF-extraction service inside CDS.

  1. Enter the grades or properties you need and copy the research prompt. Paste it into ChatGPT, using manufacturer datasheets or primary publications. Attach private documents there only if you intend to share them with that service.
  2. Download the JSON template if needed. Bring the structured JSON response back to Workbench through Choose research JSON or paste it and select Load JSON for review.
  3. Optionally attach up to three local PDF, PNG or JPEG datasheets for comparison. They are not uploaded or automatically extracted. A manual review card is available for direct entry.
  4. Review material identity, constitutive symmetry, original and converted units, each source document and page/table, and test conditions. Correct or deselect unsupported values. Keep different temperatures, cure states and product forms in separate records.
  5. Select the properties you verified. Conflicting values require choosing one per property. Unknown values are not converted to zero; estimated values require explicit opt-in.
  6. Choose an existing material folder or create an import class. Confirm the review acknowledgement, then import new records. Existing materials are never overwritten.
  7. Expand Imported property evidence in the material source panel to review original values and references. Later edits are marked as changed relative to the import snapshot. Save the workspace as CDS_DB to retain the new records.
02

Add materials

Right-click Materials or an allowed material folder and choose Create. Enter a clear title and select the material class so the record appears in the correct virtual folder.

  1. Choose Fiber, Polymer, Metal, Elastomer, or Core & Filler.
  2. Enter source and identification details. See screenshot
  3. Populate the applicable property groups. See screenshot
  4. Save the new record and verify its folder classification. See screenshot
Right-click Materials to create a material family or an unfiled material.
Right-click Materials to create a material family or an unfiled material. Open full size ↗GUI capture · September 7, 2026. Control locations may differ in later releases; not benchmark evidence.
The material editor shows source provenance, property groups, units, locks and Save.
Steps 2, 3, 4 · The material editor shows source provenance, property groups, units, locks and Save. Open full size ↗GUI capture · September 10, 2026. Control locations may differ in later releases; not benchmark evidence.
03

Edit property values

The material editor uses compact rows for variable ID, descriptor, value, units, and lock state. Hover over truncated descriptors for the full meaning.

  1. Click the lock to enable editing. See screenshot
  2. Enter numeric values only in numeric fields. See screenshot
  3. Confirm units before leaving the row. See screenshot
  4. Use the value slider for bounded adjustments. See screenshot
  5. Right-click a value to set lower bound, upper bound, default, and increment jump.
Use the lock column, numeric values and units in the property table. Show zero terms reveals additional stored inputs.
Steps 1, 2, 3, 4 · Use the lock column, numeric values and units in the property table. Show zero terms reveals additional stored inputs. Open full size ↗GUI capture · September 10, 2026. Control locations may differ in later releases; not benchmark evidence.
04

Move and organize materials

Create virtual folders to match suppliers, programs, material families, or qualification status. Moving a material changes its working classification for later selection filters.

  1. Create a virtual folder under Materials. See screenshot
  2. Right-click a record and choose Move to folder.
  3. Confirm the destination.
  4. Use the material-folder filter to verify the new organization.
Create a material family from the Materials context menu before organizing records into it.
Steps 1 · Create a material family from the Materials context menu before organizing records into it. Open full size ↗GUI capture · September 7, 2026. Control locations may differ in later releases; not benchmark evidence.
05

Duplicate and delete records

Duplicate is the safest starting point for a related material. Delete removes an eligible user record only after dependency review.

  1. Right-click the record. See screenshot
  2. Choose Duplicate and immediately rename the copy. See screenshot
  3. For deletion, review every downstream lamina, laminate, or simulation dependency shown in the warning.
  4. Cancel if the record is still required; otherwise confirm deletion.
Right-click the exact material to find Duplicate, Move and Delete. Opening this menu does not alter the record; review dependencies before confirming deletion.
Steps 1, 2 · Right-click the exact material to find Duplicate, Move and Delete. Opening this menu does not alter the record; review dependencies before confirming deletion. Open full size ↗GUI capture · September 7, 2026. Control locations may differ in later releases; not benchmark evidence.
06

Use right-click options

Context menus provide the same record actions available through Project Manager: create, duplicate, rename, move, save, export, and delete. Parent-level actions apply to the selected subtree where supported.

  1. Right-click the exact record or parent folder you intend to affect. See screenshot
  2. Read the scope shown in the menu. See screenshot
  3. Use Save Data or local database export when a portable copy is needed. See screenshot
  4. Check dependency warnings before destructive actions.
The menu title and actions depend on the selected scope. This example is the whole Materials library.
Steps 1, 2, 3 · The menu title and actions depend on the selected scope. This example is the whole Materials library. Open full size ↗GUI capture · September 7, 2026. Control locations may differ in later releases; not benchmark evidence.