This release of the Ansys Composite Prep™ (ACP) layered composite modeling and preprocessing software contains all capabilities from previous releases. The following sections present the new features, enhancements, and known limitations for the ACP application in Release 2026 R1.
The ACP application includes new features and enhancements at Release 2026 R1 in the following areas:
- 1.1. Interface to the Ansys LS-DYNA™ Application
- 1.2. Solid Composite Model with Reinforcing Elements
- 1.3. Performance Improvements
- 1.4. Split Modeling Ply into Production Materials
- 1.5. End of Support for .acp Serialization Format
- 1.6. Sampling Point for Solid Models
- 1.7. Improved Search Widget
- 1.8. Ansys Composite Cure Simulation (ACCS) Updates
- 1.9. Two Examples of Solid Modeling with Reinforcing Elements
ACP now includes a refactored LS-DYNA interface based on the Envyo application. This update provides:
Expanded Functionality: Support for a wider range of material, part, and element keywords, as well as additional modeling approaches.
Improved Workflows: Export shell and solid models for further processing in the LS-PrePost application.
Direct Model Conversion: Convert ACP models to LS-DYNA input files using the Envyo application. For more information, see Workflows in the Envyo User's Guide.
You can use this interface when ACP runs within the Ansys Workbench™ software or as a standalone application. For details, see LS-DYNA in the ACP User's Guide.
You can now use reinforcing element technology to model layered composite solid models in the Workbench software. This capability supports passing the configured solid model and reinforcing plies from ACP to the Ansys Mechanical™ application for structural or thermal analysis.
The enhancement also enables modeling of layered composites with tetrahedral solid meshes. Previously, solids required layered brick (hex) elements. For more information, see Layup Mapping Objects in the ACP User's Guide.
ACP includes several performance improvements, especially for large models:
Model loading is about 4x faster than previous releases.
Model updates are about 2x more efficient.
Solid model processing is about 20% faster, and refreshing a model is more efficient.
You can now split a modeling ply with a sublaminate into its production materials. This enhancement simplifies layup refinement workflows, which often start with the same stack of plies for the entire structure and then refine it step by step. The initial step can be accomplished using sublaminates, but previously, inserting local patches required manually splitting those sublaminates into separate plies.
The legacy .acp serialization format is no longer supported. The .acph5 format, introduced in Release 2019 R1 (19.3), replaces .acp and is required for compatibility with current and future releases.
How to upgrade older projects
To upgrade projects created with ACP 19.2 or earlier:
Use any version of Workbench software between 2019 R1 and 2025 R2.
Open and close all ACP setup and results components, then save the project.
Removed functionality
Export and import of composite definitions to .acp files is
removed. For individual ACP objects, use the serialize() method to
obtain Python code for creating the object. To duplicate multiple interdependent
objects or copy them between models, use the PyACP
recursive_copy() function.
For details, see linkShare and Copy Composite Definitions Between Models in the ACP User's Guide.
The Composite Sampling Point tool in the Mechanical application can now scope to an ACP solid model. This tool provides access to results from the bottom to the top of the laminate. Visualizing through-the-thickness distribution of stacking sequence, strains, stresses, and failures helps you understand laminate behavior and optimize designs.
For more information, see Composite Sampling Point Tool in the Mechanical User's Guide.
The ACP object tree search widget now supports seamless object selection from a filtered tree. This improvement makes the UI faster and simplifies handling large models with many named selections.
Updates include:
Improved support for multiple curing cycles and steps, including better import of the initial degree of cure into ACCS.
Added support for porosity in the resin transfer molding (RTM) solver.
Improved inlet definition in RTM workflows.
Added a Post Fill Phase for the RTM solver.
For more information, see Ansys Composite Cure Simulation Documentation.
The following two examples are now available:
T-Joint Example: Demonstrates the standard workflow for building a layered 3D composite structure using reinforcing elements.
Fan-Blade Example: Demonstrates how reinforcing elements integrate with Imported Plies that originate from CAD surfaces rather than reference surfaces.
General ACP application and release-specific limitations can be found in Known Limitations in the ACP User's Guide.