Defining a Main Stacking Sequence

You can define a Main Stacking Sequence either by importing/exporting a laminate table, or by adding or editing a Main Stacking Sequence.

See Main Stacking Sequence for more information about the format.

Notes:
  • This task is available in Composites Design, Composites Manufacturing Preparation and Composites Braiding.
  • Main Stacking Sequence does not support Power Copy.

This task shows you how to:

Import/Export a Laminate Table

You can import/export a laminate table.

  1. From the Plies Design or from the Grid Design section of the action bar, click Composites Parameters .
  2. Select the Main Stacking Sequence tab.
  3. Enter the path of the spreadsheet and click Import.
    • The dialog box is populated with the Main Stacking Sequence information (first five columns) and that of the stacking sequences (following columns) using it.
    • A Main Stacking Sequence node is created under Composites Parameters.
    • Imported laminates are displayed in the Laminates tab and marked SS-MSS.
  4. Enter the path of the exported file and click Export.

    Note: Exported files always include the color index line.

Add or Edit a Main Stacking Sequence

You can add or edit a Main Stacking Sequence.

Note: You cannot
  • Remove a layer from a Main Stacking Sequence.
  • Change the layer material or orientation in a Main Stacking Sequence.
  • Modify the layers order in a Main Stacking Sequence.

  1. Click Add MSS Laminate.

    Notes:
    • The laminate name must be unique.
    • All laminate color indices must be unique.
    • You cannot switch a laminate to a stacking sequence.

    A laminate is added.
  2. Select a laminate and click Edit MSS Laminate.

    Notes:
    • You can modify the orientations of an existing laminate, or specify the orientations of a laminate you have added as explained above.
    • When adding or editing a laminate, you can only add or remove orientations without adding a layer to the Main Stacking Sequence.
    • The laminate name must be unique.
    • All laminate color indices must be unique.
    • You cannot switch a laminate to a stacking sequence.

    1. In the dialog box, click Add/Remove Orientation.
    The laminate orientations are updated accordingly.
  3. Select a line in the table and click Add Layer.

    Notes:
    • You can add a layer at any position in the Main Stacking Sequence, above the selected line. If you have not selected a line, the layer is added at the end of the table.
    • If defined for one line, the layer name must be defined for all and be unique.
    • If defined for one line, the layer level must be defined for all and be a numerical value (0 by default).
    • Material ID and orientations must correspond to existing ones in model.
    • You can create a layer without associated laminates, provided the Main Stacking Sequence contains at least one layer with at least one associated laminate.

    1. Specify the layer attributes in the dedicated dialog box.
  4. Select a layer and click Edit Layer.

    Notes:
    • You can modify the sequence name, the level and the laminates, not the material nor the orientation.
    • If defined for one line, the layer name must be defined for all and be unique.
    • If defined for one line, the layer level must be defined for all and be a numerical value (0 by default).

  5. If no Main Stacking Sequence exists yet:
    1. Click Add Layer.
      • A layer is created without laminate.
      • A Main Stacking Sequence is created.
    2. Click Add MSS Laminate to associate a Main Stacking Sequence laminate to the created layer.
    3. Click Add/Remove Orientation to complete the laminate definition.
      A first laminate is added to the layer.
    4. Add laminates as required.
  6. Click Remove MSS.

    Available only if at least one Main Stacking Sequence with one layer exists.

    The Main Stacking Sequence is removed.

If plies had been generated before the modifications of the Main Stacking Sequence, update is done as follows after validation of the Composites Parameters:

  • The grid definition is automatically updated.
  • Edit the virtual stacking and select Recomputation from Grid in the Tools Palette. Validate the modifications.
  • An update of the plies group is proposed.
    • Plies generation is started.
    • Validate the plies generation.