Model Reduction by Symmetry for Composites

[Chris10B]

Hello,

I am modeling a composite bicycle wheel rim. As the wheel is symmetrical about its mid-plane and the XY plane, I believe I could reduce the model to 1/4. However I have read in one of the Simulia Composite modeling tutorials that using symmetry constraints is not advisable in composites modeling.
Does anybody have experience with this sort of thing?

Thanks!

Chris

 

[Mustaine3]

A symmetric requires that geometry, load and the material is symmetric regarding the symmetry planes. A carbon composite layup is usually not that symmetric, except you have 90° angles of your fibers toward the symmetry planes. I assume that is not the case.