Creating a Local Drop-Off

You can create a local drop-off.

Warning: Modifications made with Local Drop Off are generative, not associative.
Note: This task is available in Composites Design.

See Also
About Drop-Off Pattern
  1. From the Grid Design section of the action bar, click Local Drop Off .
  2. Define the section.
    1. Pick a point on a structural element.

      A limited intersection of the plane perpendicular to the structural element and the reference surface is displayed (green line limited by two green handles below).

    2. Drag one of the handles to resize the section.
  3. Click Compute Section.

    The section is computed and displayed in the viewer of the dialog box.

    • Standard pan and zoom are available in this viewer.
    • The ramp support curves available within the section limits are displayed as vertical dotted lines. The structural element you have picked is displayed as a white dotted line. The plies are displayed as horizontal full lines, in different colors.

    • A ply selected in the dialog box viewer is highlighted in the work area.
    • When you place the pointer over a ply, information about this ply is displayed above the viewer.
    • Plies that fully cover the cells on both sides of the section limits (full plies) are displayed with no handles, and cannot be moved:

    • The plies that do not fully cover the cells on both sides of the section limits are displayed with handles:

  4. Select the With Propagation check box.
    • When you apply a new pattern, Composites Design tries to use the ramps already used by the plies just before applying this new pattern.
    • If there are not enough ramps, Composites Design uses the curves used to compute the section.
    • If these two steps are not successful, you are asked to use all the curves of the ramp supports.
  5. Select the Check Overlaps check box.
    The curves are checked for overlaps and the list of the overlaps found is displayed.

    If With Propagation is active, this control applies to all the curves of the ply contours where the propagation is applied.

  6. Manage the drop-off:
    1. Drag the handle to move a ply from one ramp support curve to another.
    2. Select the display mode.

      • displays all full plies.
      • displays only relevant full plies.
      • hides all full plies.

    3. On each side of the section, either apply a drop-off pattern selected in the list or modify the drop-off manually by moving plies as explained above.

    When you move a ply to a ramp support curve that is already used by another ply, you are asked to confirm that move. Click:

    • Yes to move the ply. If an overlap occurs, a warning is displayed.
    • No to cancel the move.
    • Swap to swap the positions of both plies.