This option allows you to extract material data from an HDF5 Composite CAE file for use in Workbench. Using the dialog box shown below, specify the HDF5 Composite CAE file which contains the materials data. Then select the folder where you want to save it. ACP saves the materials in MatML format so it can be imported into Engineering Data in Workbench.

Figure 1.10: Extract Materials From Composite CAE H5... Dialog

The Winding Wizard generates a winding lay-up for an axisymmetric body. The Wizard is useful for creating a simple lay-up where the paths are geodesic. For more complex winding lay-ups, consider importing the lay-up from a dedicated winding tool using ACP's feature Import from HDF5 Composite CAE File … (See HDF5 Composite CAE Format.) CADWIND, CADFIL ,and μWind (Mefex GmbH) are all able to export Composite CAE H5 files and generate machine code. Below are links to their websites.

The Wizard uses the Origin (a point on the axis of symmetry), the Axial Direction, and the Reference Radius to automatically generate a winding lay-up for an axisymmetric body. The radius is defined as the minimal distance from any point on the surface to the axis of symmetry. The Reference Radius is equal to the radius where the layers have the nominal thickness and angle. For a typical winding body, this is the radius in the cylindrical region.

The thickness correction of each layer is calculated with:

(1–1)

The angle is calculated based on a geodesic path for which is constant:

(1–2)

(1–3)

otherwise with

(1–4)

Each layer has the following properties, which can be defined in the table:

You can also import the layers from a CSV file with the Import from CSV button. Columns are Fabric Id, Nominal Angle, Has Limits, Lower Limit, Upper Limit, and Add Mirrored Ply. Example Row:

The Wizard generates the following objects:

Once the lay-up is generated, you can manually adjust it. For example, you can edit the thicknesses and angles in the Look-up Table or edit the parameters of the Selection Rule.

Figure 1.11: Winding Wizard with the Inputs on Top and the Description at the Bottom

You can configure the following application settings through the Preferences submenu:

Figure 1.12: Preferences Window

 

1.3.1.3.3.3. General ACP Preferences

In the General heading, the following options are available:

Ansys Executable Path: Path to the ansys.exe file (solver). If empty, ACP uses the default path from the installation.

Ansys License: Defines which license will be used to solve the model. For more information on licenses, see Product to License Feature Mapping in the Ansys, Inc. License Management Guide. The Feature Name (from the Ansys Product to License Feature Mapping Table) should be typed in this field. For example, enter struct for an Ansys Mechanical Enterprise Solver. By default, the Ansys License field is empty, in which case ACP uses the order of licenses defined in the LM Center.

Number of Threads to Use in Parallel: Specifies the number of cores/threads used for computation. ACP uses all available cores when the option is zero (default).

H5 Compression Level: Specify the GZip compression level of HDF5 (storage format of ACP). The default setting is 2. This setting provides good compression at an overhead of about 35% when compared to no compression (setting of 0). The highest available setting is 9. Note that processing requirements increase based on this setting. You will notice an increase in processing times with a setting of 4 and above. You need to evaluate the benefits of increased processing time versus file size reduction.

Figure 1.13: General ACP Preferences

 

1.3.1.3.3.4. Logger Settings

Use the Logger Settings dropdown menu to set the severity level of messages displayed in the Log Window. The levels are:

Debug: Log everything, including debugging information.

Info (default): Log everything, except debugging information.

Warning: Log errors and warnings.

Error: Log errors only.

Critical: Not used.

Number of Days to Keep Log Files: Specify how long the ACP log files are retained. By default, ACP deletes files older than seven days. Note that keeping a large number of log files slows down the ACP startup.

Figure 1.14: Logger Preferences

 

1.3.1.3.3.6. Notifications and Pop-ups

Notifications and Pop-ups: Enable or disable notifications and confirmation dialogs.

 

1.3.1.3.3.7. Scene Preferences

In the Scene heading, some graphical properties of the model display can be modified. These properties are grouped in three parts:

Figure 1.15: Scene Preferences

• Appearance: Background color of the Scene window can be defined as uniform or as a gradient from bottom to top. To obtain a uniform background, Background Color and Background Color 2 should have the same color definition. When defining a top to bottom gradient, Background Color is the bottom color and Background Color 2 is the top color. To modify these colors click Edit.

• Screenshot: By default, the size of the image captured by the Snapshot utility has the same size as the Scene size. The size of the captured image can be fixed to a certain dimension. This option should be used carefully. By default, the Anti-Aliasing option is active. On some hardware, this option may slow down image creation. If you are experiencing difficulty taking screenshots, turn the Anti-Aliasing option off.

 

1.3.1.3.3.8. Section Generation

Section Generation: Define default tolerance values for the generation of sections and the minimum analysis ply thickness. For more information see Lay-Up Computation.

Figure 1.16: Section Generation Preferences

 

1.3.1.3.3.9. Units

You use the Units menu to change the active unit system.

Figure 1.17: Units Menu

The unit system can only be altered in preprocessing. It is locked in shared mode and postprocessing. When changing from a predefined unit system to Undefined, or vice versa, no conversions take place.

The unit system of the active model is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the ACP window.

Table 1.1: Predefined Unit Systems

Name	Length	Mass	Time	Length*Mass/Time2	Temperature	Currency
BFT	ft	slug	s	lbf	F	USD
BIN	in	1/in*lbf/s2	s	lbf	F	USD
CGS	cm	g	s	dyn	C	USD
MKS	m	kg	s	N	K	USD
MPA	mm	t	s	N	C	USD
SI	m	kg	s	N	K	USD
UMKS	μm	kg	s	μN	C	USD
Undefined	-	-	-	-	-	-