Material orientation

[toast01]

Hello.

I have a question about the material orientation of (solid) elements.

When I use the command Modify - Update Elements - Material Orientation, I get the following error messages:

I do not understand how the material orientation could be perpendicular to a solid element.

I try to use the material orientation to make sure my output stress in in the correct direction. (I also want to use this method in other plate element models)

My model consists of hexahedral- and tetrahedral meshed elements. Here are some pictures:

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[ThomasH]

Hi

Are you certain thst there are no plane elements in the model? Prerhaps some have been created during the meshing?

Regards

Thomas

 

[toast01]

Thank you! There were indeed some Plot planar elements in my model (I extruded these elements to create the solid mesh).

Now it seems that that I can define a material orientation for planar elements only:

Which I find quite interesting: if I cannot define a material orientation for solid elements, why can I transform the output for solids to a material orientation? see image below.

 

[APav]

Hi,
You are mixing 2 things:
- the "Modify > Element > Material" command deals with elements which can be oriented at component level (i.e. at element level), so in the element NASTRAN card.
- solids are orientable through their property, not through the CHEXA card.

So you need to use Modify > Edit the solid property > checkout the "Material Axes": you need a CSys to orient solid elements.

AP

 

[toast01]

Thank you! I did not notice the "material axes" section in the property window.