Use this directory after identifying the physical question and the input data available to answer it. Similar names do not imply interchangeable formulations. Compare the model assumptions, input requirements and output meanings, then return to the earlier workflow chapters to prepare and connect the selected calculation.
8.1 Models you can use. Connections you can follow.
Workflow / released models
The released Workbench model set, grouped by engineering purpose. Open a family for its tree location, inputs, outputs, theory and guided exercise. Availability also depends on your license.
43 model families in the released Workbench
Choose a formulation in Models, edit its linked source record, connect required inputs in Simulation, then watch a quick workflow update or press Run. Tree nesting shows related methods—not permission to combine every method in one solve. A completed calculation is not a validated design pass.
Live updates or Run?
Small compatible workflows refresh after editing pauses, using the current connected materials, Micro, laminate and case inputs. Larger sampling, mode searches, mesh calculations and process histories require Run after upstream changes. Workbench also switches a workload to Run when measured solver time exceeds its live budget; it never reduces numerical accuracy to stay live.
The Solver control shows Live updates or Run required and can pause automatic updates. Hidden tabs do not start background refreshes. Superseded results are discarded, and all automatic runs retain the same model and license checks. Fast reference-state studies remain separate studies: live scheduling does not create new physical coupling.
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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- EM · EM Mori–Tanaka
Scalar principal-axis ellipsoidal field approximation.
EM self-consistent · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → EM self-consistent
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- EM · EM self-consistent
Scalar principal-axis self-consistency; spherical case equals Bruggeman.
Differential effective medium · 1
Models → Electromagnetics · RF → Differential effective medium
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
Theory references are not a list of enabled solvers
The wider theory library includes research formulations that are not selectable in the hosted Workbench. Use the directory above for the documented released model set. Reference-state studies remain separate from coupled process or progressive analyses unless an explicit transfer is supported.
For example, the separate tool-release study uses prescribed effective strains; residual-fatigue curves do not automatically update optimization properties. Read each family’s limitations before combining results.
Chapter review
A directory entry identifies a model family; the detailed theory establishes its applicable assumptions and limits.
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.