A study begins with a question about a particular material or structure. The question may concern stiffness under load, temperature during a manufacturing cycle, or deformation after cooling. These questions require different inputs and do not necessarily use the same solver. Before opening the model directory, describe the response you need, the conditions under which it matters, and the evidence that would make the answer useful.
The following chapters develop the input chain in the order in which an engineer prepares it. Material records establish the property basis; micromechanics supplies an effective ply where needed; the laminate records the layer arrangement. Processing histories, geometry and boundary conditions then define the calculation. This order also provides a way to diagnose an unexpected result: trace the response back through the records that supplied it, rather than adjusting several unrelated settings at once.
1.1 Fully integrated Micro to Macro Engineering.
03 / Workflow
Follow one connected engineering record through materials, micromechanics, laminates, processing, structural design, and the CDS cloud.
Connected engineering flow
From material definition to engineering result.
Follow the linked physics from constituent data through micromechanics, laminate response, equipment and processing, structural analysis and specialist studies.
Select a stage or model block for its theory and workflow. Open full-size diagram · Explore current model availability and limits. This hierarchy shows the model relationships, not a single simulation with every connection enabled.
Model Map now has a permanent home in Theory
Interactive model map
Choose the physics. Follow the connections.
Start with an engineering application, then expand its branch to see models, inputs, results and theory. These six topics cover all 43 current model families, including the specialist studies.
Materials & micromechanics
Design a ply or reinforced feedstock
Explore 1 family · 9 model choices
Micromechanics · 9
Models browser → Micromechanics · source: Micro
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Halpin–Tsai
- Rule of mixtures
- Modified rule of mixtures
- Chamis
- Mori–Tanaka
- Hashin–Rosen
- Self-consistent scheme
- Woven fabric bridging
- Cox shear-lag elastic
One compatible homogenization model per Micro recipe. Use separate recipes for comparisons; they are not combined in a single ply.
Heat, moisture & manufacturing
Cure, pultrusion, conditioning and tool release
Explore 5 families · 15 model choices
Cure, crystallization & material transport · 8
Models → material-model folders · assigned through Materials
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Kamal–Sourour autocatalytic
- Kamal–Sourour with diffusion control
- Nth-order Arrhenius
- CHILE (degree of cure)
- UV intensity-dependent cure
- Nakamura–Avrami
- Temperature-dependent tabular
- 1D Fickian diffusion
Independent model records can be linked together through material inputs. A saved model must be assigned to a material before it contributes to a simulation.
Thermal transport · 3
Models browser → Thermal transport · source: CASES / Thermal
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- 1D transient heat transfer
- 1D steady-state heat transfer
- 1D pultrusion thermal cure
One transport formulation per thermal case. Select its laminate and configure its own initial conditions and surface cycle; pultrusion additionally requires a distance-based die schedule and pulling velocity.
Moisture transport · 2
Models browser → Moisture transport · source: CASES / Moisture
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- 1D transient moisture diffusion
- 1D steady-state moisture diffusion
One formulation per moisture analysis. Thermal and moisture analyses can both be linked in Simulation; each needs its own boundary conditions.
Rubber-covered roller contact · 1
Geometry → Rollers; Models → Roller contact
Thermal starting point: add roller Geometry and a roller boundary; the supplied die exercise does not contain a roller.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Bonded-layer roller contact
Bonded coating on a rigid core against a rigid flat. Geometry selects Infinite width (analytical plane strain) or Finite width (3D elastic contact with axial end spreading). Small deformation and optional prescribed sliding friction; no hyperelasticity or rolling resistance.
Tool-release shape · 1
Structural models → Tool-release shape
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Free-release eigenstrain & spring-in
Free CLT release from prescribed ply-local shrinkage/thermal eigenstrains. Corner spring-in is a separate uniform-strain estimate. Stress-free temperature and effective post-gel shrinkage need calibration. No tool friction, cure kinetics or viscoelastic restraint history.
Structural mechanics
Size plates, beams, shells, sandwich panels and joints
Explore 7 families · 17 model choices
Plate · CLT & FSDT · 6
Structural models → Laminate mechanics · CLT / FSDT
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- CLT
- FSDT
- Static bending
- Modal
- Buckling
- Buckling and modal
Choose a formulation and study. Buckling and modal can be requested together; static bending requires FSDT. These are reference-elastic studies, separate from coupled process or progressive failure.
Cylinder · 2
Structural models → Cylinder models
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Linear thin-wall membrane
- Layerwise thick-wall elasticity
Choose one cylinder formulation per case record. Geometry and plies remain shared; thick-wall radial results exclude torsion and process strains.
Membrane, bending & beam buckling · 3
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Membrane, bending & beam
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Linear static
- Linear static with failure indices
- Beam Euler buckling
Geometry and the case determine the membrane or beam-test interpretation. Euler buckling requires a compatible beam section and a separate reference-elastic study; it is not a strength or local-buckling pass.
Layerwise sections, joints & delamination · 3
Structural models → Layerwise sections & joints
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Layerwise x-z plane strain
- Single-lap x-z plane strain
- Coupled delamination growth
Coupled delamination is available only for the layerwise Plate section and needs calibrated interface and ply properties. Lap-shear uses its separate joint geometry and perfectly bonded elastic formulation.
Sandwich bending · 1
Structural models → Sandwich bending
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Sandwich three-point bend
Dedicated sandwich screening. Check core, faces and nominal bond shear separately; peel, mixed-mode debonding and crack growth are not assessed.
Analytical bonded joint · 1
Structural models → Layerwise sections & joints → Analytical bonded joint
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Volkersen & Goland–Reissner joint
Identical equivalent-elastic adherends, long free arms and a thin elastic adhesive. Compare shear-only Volkersen with eccentric single-lap shear and peel. Not a debonding, plasticity or strength calculation.
Cylinder buckling · 1
Structural models → Cylinder models → Cylinder buckling
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Donnell cylinder · axial buckling
Simply supported, thin, specially orthotropic cylinder under uniform axial compression. Discrete Donnell modes; prescribed knockdown factor explores imperfection sensitivity, not a prediction from measured imperfection amplitude. No pressure, torsion, postbuckling or strength pass.
Failure, durability & variability
Assess strength, service life and sensitivity
Explore 7 families · 15 model choices
Failure & envelope comparison · 5
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Failure criteria
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Maximum stress
- Maximum strain
- Tsai–Hill
- Tsai–Wu
- Hashin
One primary failure criterion per load. In Response → Failure, compare all eligible theories or a custom selection in the envelope controls. Each theory runs independently; criteria are not blended.
Fatigue S–N · 5
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Fatigue
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Kim–Zhang
- Sendeckyj
- Weibull S–N
- Kohout–Vechet
- Basquin
Select calibrated S–N curves for each material, direction and stress sign in Fatigue. Different sources can use different models. S–N life does not define residual stiffness or strength.
Open-hole strength · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Failure criteria → Open-hole strength
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Whitney–Nuismer open-hole tension
Infinite-width, specially orthotropic tension screening. Point and average stress distances must be calibrated independently for this laminate. Not compression, bearing or a joint allowable.
Creep & stress relaxation · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Creep & stress relaxation
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Generalized Maxwell · axial Prony
Linear uniaxial response at the calibration temperature. Reference Ex is the instantaneous modulus. Three Maxwell branches; creep is solved from stress equilibrium, not the reciprocal relaxation modulus. No thermal shifting or nonlinear creep.
LaRC04 failure initiation · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Failure criteria → LaRC04
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- LaRC04 · linear shear
NASA LaRC04 linear-shear specialization, evaluated at both faces of every ply under membrane and bending loads. Supplied ply strengths are effective/in-situ values; no automatic thin-ply enhancement. Initiation only, not degradation or nonlinear-shear instability.
Fatigue residual properties · 1
Structural models → Laminate mechanics → Fatigue → Residual properties
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Calibrated residual-property fatigue
Prescribed power-law retention fitted to constant-amplitude tests at a fixed stress ratio, amplitude and temperature. Stiffness and strength have independent coefficients. S–N life alone cannot calibrate either. Does not modify the saved laminate.
Uncertainty & sensitivity · 1
Structural models → Uncertainty & sensitivity
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Seeded laminate uncertainty
Seeded independent uniform sampling of shared modulus, ply-thickness and angle offsets. Recomputes laminate ABD for each sample. Bounds are assumptions, not measured distributions. Percentiles and sensitivity are exploratory, not reliability certification.
Virtual test lab
Explore specimen behavior and calibration
Explore 10 families · 10 model choices
D6641 · Compression coupon · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · compression coupon
Uniform small-strain compression using linked laminate Ex and thickness. Measured compressive strength supplies a screening ratio; fixture, tabs, buckling and failure evolution are not simulated.
D5379 / D7078 · Shear coupon · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · nominal shear coupon
Uniform nominal shear between notches using linked laminate Gxy and thickness. Not a notch/fixture stress field or nonlinear shear solution. Gauge length is the effective shear deformation length, not crosshead travel.
D5528 · DCB opening · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · DCB beam compliance
Ideal Euler–Bernoulli DCB with equal homogeneous 0° arms, each half the linked laminate thickness. No root rotation, shear, large displacement or cohesive growth. Critical load is an initiation estimate from supplied GIc.
D7905 · ENF sliding · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · ENF beam compliance
Ideal equal-arm, homogeneous 0° ENF beam; support span is twice the half-span. Crack must be shorter than the half-span. No shear/root correction or unstable crack growth. GIIc is supplied, not fitted automatically.
D6671 · Mixed-mode fracture envelope · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · BK mixed-mode envelope
Benzeggagh–Kenane envelope from calibrated GIc, GIIc and exponent. Supplied GI/GII are energy-release rates from a separate test reduction or analysis. This does not resolve the MMB lever fixture or propagate a crack.
D5229 · Moisture uptake calibration · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · Fickian uptake calibration
Homogeneous slab, initially dry, both faces held at equilibrium moisture. Fits diffusivity from two early uptake measurements (both ≤50% saturation) using the square-root-time approximation. Edge ingress and temperature dependence are excluded. Does not overwrite material properties.
D5961 · Bearing / bypass screening · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · bearing bypass screening
Single-pin nominal bearing, net-section and shear-out checks with independent measured allowables. Bypass tension is added to net-section load only. No contact, bolt preload, load redistribution or validated bearing–bypass interaction envelope.
D6484 · Open-hole compression · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · measured open-hole compression
Nominal gross/net stress and demand relative to measured open-hole compressive strength for this geometry and layup. This is test-data screening, not an uncalibrated notch-strength prediction. No local buckling or kink-band simulation.
D6742 · Filled-hole comparison · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · measured filled-hole comparison
Compares user-measured open- and filled-hole compressive strengths using gross-section stress. Use matched layup, hole, environment and fastener condition. Filling a hole does not automatically recover strength; no fastener contact/preload model is applied.
D7136 / D7137 · Impact & CAI assessment · 1
Models → Structural models → ASTM · Virtual Test Lab
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- Virtual test · measured impact and CAI
Incident energy from measured impact velocity; residual compressive strength from measured peak CAI force. Rebound energy estimates energy not returned to the striker, NOT damage energy. No impact/contact solver, damage-area prediction or energy-to-strength extrapolation.
Electromagnetics & RF
Design dielectric mixtures, shielding and periodic layers
Explore 13 families · 13 model choices
Wiener series and parallel · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Wiener series and parallel
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Wiener series and parallel
Positive lossless dielectric bounds; complex directional estimates.
Looyenga / Landau–Lifshitz–Looyenga · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Looyenga / Landau–Lifshitz–Looyenga
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
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- EM · Looyenga / Landau–Lifshitz–Looyenga
One cube-root mixing law, not two independent models.
Maxwell–Garnett · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Maxwell–Garnett
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Maxwell–Garnett
Dilute subwavelength spherical inclusions in a host.
Normal-incidence laminate TMM · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Normal-incidence laminate TMM
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Normal-incidence laminate TMM
Coherent isotropic nonmagnetic layers between air half-spaces.
Bruggeman symmetric EMT · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Bruggeman symmetric EMT
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Bruggeman symmetric EMT
Two positive-permittivity phases; no explicit contact network.
EM Mori–Tanaka · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → EM Mori–Tanaka
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · EM Mori–Tanaka
Scalar principal-axis ellipsoidal field approximation.
EM self-consistent · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → EM self-consistent
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · EM self-consistent
Scalar principal-axis self-consistency; spherical case equals Bruggeman.
Differential effective medium · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Differential effective medium
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
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- EM · Differential effective medium
Incremental mixing with time-step refinement check.
Coated sphere and interphase · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Coated sphere and interphase
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Coated sphere and interphase
Concentric subwavelength coated spheres; no dynamic Mie scattering.
Generalized multiphase EMT · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Generalized multiphase EMT
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Generalized multiphase EMT
Spherical multiphase Bruggeman with convergence checks.
Oblique polarized laminate TMM · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Oblique polarized laminate TMM
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · Oblique polarized laminate TMM
TE or TM waves; scalar isotropic layers, no polarization conversion.
1D transmission line matrix · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → 1D transmission line matrix
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · 1D transmission line matrix
Normal-incidence lossless delay-line mesh with pulse decay, energy and mesh-refinement safeguards. Explicit Run required; not a 3D solver.
1D Floquet–Bloch periodic layers · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → 1D Floquet–Bloch periodic layers
Representative exercise workflow · supplied records remain in place; only used connections have arrows.
Only blocks on the exercise path are shown. This changes the view only, not the exercise records.
- EM · 1D Floquet–Bloch periodic layers
Lossless isotropic A/B unit-cell eigenvalues, folded Bloch phase and stop-band attenuation at normal incidence. Not arbitrary-cell homogenization.
Each branch has its own compatible inputs and assumptions—not every model runs in one simulation. Fatigue S–N and calibrated residual-property studies are separate from progressive failure; neither automatically changes the saved laminate or optimization properties. ∑ Fatigue theory.
Optimization, progressive updates, reports and exports support compatible studies. Explore automation and results → · Compare packages and prices →
Continue with the complete manuals
Use the full User Guide for controls and practical workflows, the Theory Manual for equations and model limits, and the Training Manual for exercises and checkpoints.
Complete PDF and Word editions · Read the Models & Workflow manual · Explore the exercises
RF and microwave studies
Separate RF screening studies use measured electrical properties. They do not infer dielectric behavior from mechanical data or automatically couple electromagnetic heating into a process cycle.
Models, equations, worked example and limits ↗Explore this section
6 destinationsMaterials
Organize source-aware constituents, vendor records, prepregs, adhesives, cores, sandwich systems, diffusion data, cure kinetics, crystallization kinetics, reaction heat, and process shrinkage into reusable engineering records.
→03.2Micromechanics
Choose a released architecture-compatible homogenization model, inspect its reference ply properties, and carry those properties into the laminate.
→03.3Laminates
Connect stored or Micro-derived ply properties to a stacking sequence, then choose a compatible structural or separate analytical study.
→03.4Processing
Solve steady-state or transient through-thickness process response before structural analysis, using effective ply transport properties, independent top and bottom schedules, cure exotherm, cure-dependent modulus, polymer kinetics, water uptake or release, and process-cycle optimization.
→03.5Design
Choose a compatible released plate, cylinder, beam, section, joint or analytical study. Shared laminate inputs do not make every model combination valid.
→03.6Cloud
Extend the integrated model chain into secure collaboration, managed user access, versioned engineering records, shared examples, license delivery, and reusable cloud-supported workflows.
→Chapter review
Write the intended quantity, units and model limits before building the remaining input chain.
References and source sections
References are retained with the formulations they support. Software instructions describe implementation scope; a cited source does not establish independent validation of a CDS calculation.