Product: Abaqus/CAE
Benefits: The ability to easily define orientations based on the topology of a part provides a convenient method for defining an orientation on curved shapes.
Description: Material orientations and orientations for composite layups can now be defined using discrete orientations. A discrete orientation defines a spatially varying orientation for each native or orphan mesh element and can be based on the topology of the part, which allows you to define a continually varying orientation. You define the normal axis and primary axis, and Abaqus/CAE uses these axes to construct a right-handed Cartesian coordinate system. You choose the coordinate system axis that you want the normal axis and primary axis to represent in the resultant orientation, and you select topology or datums or enter vector values to define the desired axes.
Property module: Edit Material Orientation dialog box or composite layup editor: Definition: Discrete, define normal axis and primary axis