Imported Modeling Groups organize plies which are independent of the shell reference surface. Imported Modeling Groups and the attached Imported Plies do not contribute to the standard lay-up that is defined by the Modeling Plies applied to a shell reference surface. The table below, Table 2.1: Key Differences Between a Modeling Ply and Imported Modeling Ply, lists the major differences when compared to a Standard Modeling Ply.

The structure of the Imported Modeling Group follows the pattern of the standard Modeling Group and is described in the section above, Modeling Group Structure. The equivalent to Modeling Ply, Production Ply and Analysis Ply are Imported Modeling Ply, Imported Production Ply and Imported Analysis Ply, respectively.

An example workflow is available in Chapter 4: 3D Ply Workflow - Imported Plies.