HyperX offers an extensive suite of tools for sizing and optimizing composite structures. To effectively work with these tools, the user must attain a basic understanding of the hierarchy of the composite capabilities.
The basic building blocks of all composite workflows are Composite Materials. These material definitions are selected for reference by all optimization and sizing schemes.
There are three different entities that reference Composite Materials:
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Effective Laminates - Composite Materials that approximate the behavior of a laminate with specified ply materials and percentages.
Effective Laminates are applied to specified Zones using Design Properties. This ensures the stiffness and strength properties defined on the Effective Laminate are used for optimization. One Design Property can reference a single Effective Laminate, or a selection of Effective Laminates. After optimization, the narrowed design space defined by the Effective Laminate results can be used to generate a selection of discretely defined laminates.
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Laminates - Stacks of Lamina with the orientation and Composite Material defined for each Lamina.
Laminates are applied to specified Zones using Design Properties. This ensures the stiffness and strength properties defined on the Laminate are used for optimization. They can be selected for reference individually, or a Laminate Family can be created, which allows the Design Property to reference many related Laminates for optimization. After optimization, the resulting Laminates from several nearby Zones (on a common surface) can be Sequenced - a process by which the optimal designs are 'traded' for a more cohesive, manufacturable design.
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Plies - Layers of Composite Material that cover Elements in a Structure.
Plies are either generated during the aforementioned Sequencing of Laminates or can be manually created by assigning a selection of Elements a certain Composite Material and thickness. They are used to better represent a manufacturable solution, rather than weight optimal. Because of this, Plies are the only entity in HyperX that do not directly adhere to Zone boundaries.