Global/local analysis of variable stiffness composite laminates

The present work aims to provide a framework using software tools that enable the global-local, finite element analysis of Variable Angle Tow composites in FEMAP. The workflow proposes using 2D plate elements for a global simulation, and the subsequent use of a local analysis to obtain accurate results in the thickness of the material. The architecture of NASTRAN's PCOMP property card requires the development of an Application Programming Interface script to generate properties for each element in the global mesh. This model is then evaluated and its results become the input of the local model, which is then simulated using the MUL2@GL plug-in developed by the MUL2 lab of Politecnico di Torino. To validate the proposed workflow, it is compared to previous results obtained in the literature and to a high-order 3D Layerwise model.