Material Database

Use Material Databases in SimSolid.

Purpose

SimSolid performs meshless structural analysis that works on full featured parts and assemblies, is tolerant of geometric imperfections, and runs in seconds to minutes. In this tutorial, you will do the following:
  • Learn how to edit the SimSolid Database.
    • Add Material using CSV import.
    • Add Material using the context menu.
    • Add Non-Linear Material using stress strain curve defined by n-k values.
    • Add an orthotropic material.
    • Add fatigue properties to an existing material.
  • Open the Material Database.
  • Create a new SimSolid Material Database.

Model Description

The following files are needed for this tutorial:
  • ImportCSV.csv
  • Stress_strain_curve.csv
  • NewSimSolidMaterialDB.ssm

Import Material from CSV

Add material to the SimSolid Material Database by importing from a CSV file.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 1.
  2. In the dialog, click Edit current.


    Figure 2.
  3. Click Import CSV.
    Figure 3.
  4. In the File explorer, browse to <install_directory>\2021\SimSolid2021\Examples\Material Database and choose ImportCSV.csv and click Open.


    Figure 4.


    Figure 5.
    The new materials appear under the group names specified in the file (Generic Materials and Import Test).


    Figure 6.

Add Material from Context Menu

Add material to the SimSolid Material Database using the context menu.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 7.
  2. In the dialog, click Edit current.


    Figure 8.
  3. Right-click on Generic Materials and choose Add material in the context menu.


    Figure 9.
  4. Enter the material name and values as shown in Figure 10.


    Figure 10.
  5. Click Apply.
  6. Click Save.

Add Non-Linear Material with Stress Strain Curve - Import from CSV

Add non-linear material to the SimSolid Material Database by importing a CSV file.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 11.
  2. In the dialog, click Edit current.


    Figure 12.
  3. Right-click on Sample non-linear materials and choose Add material in the context menu.


    Figure 13.
  4. Click Add stress-strain curve.
  5. Click Edit.
  6. In the Stress-strain curve dialog, click Import CSV.


    Figure 14.
  7. In the File explorer, browse to Stress_strain_curve.csv and click Open.
  8. Click OK.


    Figure 15.

    The Elasticity Modulus is calculated from the Stress-strain curve.



    Figure 16.
  9. For Material name, enter Steel NL. Enter other values for the material as seen in Figure 16.
  10. Click Apply.
  11. Click OK.

Add Non-Linear Material with Stress Strain Curve - Create by n-values

Add non-linear material to the SimSolid Material Database with stress-strain curve created from n-values.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 17.
  2. In the dialog, click Edit current.


    Figure 18.
  3. Right-click on Sample non-linear materials and choose Add material in the context menu.


    Figure 19.
  4. Click Add stress-strain curve.
  5. Click Edit.
  6. In the Stress-strain curve dialog, click Create by n-values.


    Figure 20.
  7. In the Stress-strain curve parameters dialog, select Low-carbon steel from the drop-down menu. Then click OK.


    Figure 21.
  8. In the Stress-strain curve dialog, click OK.


    Figure 22.
    The Elasticity Modulus and yield stresses are calculated from the Stress-strain curve.


    Figure 23.
  9. Enter the other values for the material as shown in Figure 23.
  10. Click Apply.
  11. Click Save.

Create Orthotropic Material

Add an orthotropic material to the material database.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 24.
  2. In the dialog, click Edit current.


    Figure 25.
  3. Create a new group.
    1. Click Add group.


      Figure 26.
    2. Right-click on the new group and select Rename from the context menu.
    3. Enter Orthotropic for the group name and click OK.
  4. Right-click on the new group and select Add material.
  5. For Material name, enter Western_Pine.
  6. For Material type, select orthotropic from the drop-down menu.
  7. Enter material values as shown in Figure 27.


    Figure 27.
    Note: Orthotropic materials can only be defined in the global coordinated system. Right-click parts in the assembly that are assigned orthotropic materials and select Set orthotropic material geometry to re-align the material properties to local coordinates.

Add Fatigue Curves

Edit existing materials to add fatigue curves.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 28.
  2. In the dialog, click Edit current.


    Figure 29.
  3. In the Generic Materials group, right-click Steel and select Copy from the context menu.
  4. Edit the copied material.
    1. Select Steel - Copy_0.
    2. Click Edit material.
  5. Add fatigue curves.
    1. In the editing field of the dialog, expand the Fatigue properties branch and click Add stress-life (SN) curve....


      Figure 30.
    2. For Curve definition method, select One slope.
    3. Click Add strain-life (EN) curve....
    4. For Curve definition method, select Slope.
    5. Enter the material values as shown in Figure 31.


      Figure 31.
      Note: By default, the Curve definition method is set to Estimate from UTS.
  6. Click Apply.
  7. Click Save.

Open Material Database

Open a new SimSolid Material Database.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 32.
  2. In the dialog, click Open.


    Figure 33.
  3. In the File explorer, browse to NewSimSolidMaterialDB.ssm and click Open.


    Figure 34.
    The new Material Database will be shown in the Edit Material database dialog.


    Figure 35.
    Note: After completing the tutorial, make sure to reopen the default SimSolid Material Database. Repeat steps 1 through 3 and load SIMSOLID-Material-DB.ssm (available at C:\users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Simsolid\SIMSOLID Material DB.ssm).

Add Material Database

Add a new SimSolid Material Database.

  1. In the main menu, click Settings > Material database.


    Figure 36.
  2. In the dialog, click New.


    Figure 37.
  3. In the File explorer, for File name enter NewSimSolidMaterialDB-practice and click Save.


    Figure 38.
    The new Material Database will be shown in the Edit Material database dialog. You can add new materials from the dialog.


    Figure 39.
    Note: After completing the tutorial, make sure to reopen the default SimSolid Material Database (available at C:\users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Simsolid\SIMSOLID Material DB.ssm).