How to define material coordinate systems to support an Orthotropic material using Solid elements

[bginvestor]

By default, APDL uses the global coordinate system to define the material coordinate system for solid elements.

We want to define an Orthotropic material property on a model that has a complex wing "type" surface. The Z-axis needs to be normal to the element face and be consistent through the thickness.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of problem? The surfaces can be quite complex and may justify an unique material coordinate system for each element. Is a custom APDL script the only way to go?

Thanks!
Brian

 

[omidomidi]

Element coordinate system is the coordinate system on which material properties are projected. For solid elements the default element coordinate system is the global coordinate system but for shell elements the default element coordinate system has z direction normal to the surface and the two other directions are normal to z direction which you can rotate using prep>modeling>modify>element attributes. also you can see the element coordinate system of every element by turning on plot ctrls>symbol>element coordinate system
In ansys workbench defining coordinate systems is much easier than in mechanical apdl.