Esacomp: Quick Start Guide For

ESAComp Quick Start Guide 1
Quick Start Guide for
ESAComp
Version 4.3
The Quick Start Guide demonstrates the following functions:

How to specify a ply Laminate FPF analysis
How to specify a laminate Curved panel analysis
Laminate 2.5D behavior analysis Stiffened panel analysis
Laminate load response Cylindrical shell analysis
Key Features of ESAComp 4.3

Analysis capabilities for fiber/matrix FE export interfaces for ABAQUS*, ANSYS*,
micromechanics, plies, laminates, flat and ANSYS Composite PrepPost (ACP)*, ANSYS
curved panels, stiffened panels, beams, bonded Workbench, ComPoLyX*, I-DEAS*, LS-DYNA,
joints, and mechanical joints. Add-on module for NASTRAN* and NISA (* import interface also
cylindrical shells. available).
Design capabilities. Evaluation and creation User extensions. Analysis extensions, batch
of laminates based on the multiobjective mode and XML data exchange.
design approach.
Comprehensive documentation consisting of
Versatile result viewing capabilities. online help and theoretical background documents.
Comparison tools, parametric studies, and
graphic result displays. Support services. Help desk, training, and
development of customized extensions.
Data Bank of commonly used composite
materials. Platforms: MS Windows and Linux
Main window, active case

Classic ESAComp main window includes drop down menus, button bars and predefined window modes.
Active Case tab opens the classic ESAComp GUI.
Main window drop-down menus give access to all major functions.
Button bars provide quick access to frequently used file/edit functions and analyses. The vertical
button bar on the left is for selecting the window mode: Fibers and Matrices, Plies, Laminates, …
A set of object windows is opened according to the selection. The analysis button bar changes
accordingly.
Object and analysis specification windows are accessed

using drop-down menus and button bars.
Right-mouse-button menu provides a handy way to work

with edit and analysis functions of the active object
window.
Main window, database

At start-up ESAComp is run in the database mode. Tree type of view of ESAComp database is
shown in the left window pane and the active case in the right window pane.
Switching between the database mode and the active case mode is done using tabs.
The browser type ESAComp GUI allows expanding and collapsing directories, case files, ESAComp
object types, and ESAComp objects.
Button bar is grouped for database and active case related functions.
With database browser objects can be

viewed in the left window pane by double-
clicking.
A case file (e.g. material data set from a

specific supplier) can be opened from the
database tree (File menu, button bar,
mouse menu).
Objects can be imported from the database

to the active case with drag-and-drop.
In the active case window pane object

related functions and analyses can be
accessed with mouse menu.
Demo 1: How to specify a ply
This demo shows how to specify a

unidirectional carbon/epoxy ply with
ESAComp. Plies may also be imported
from the database or created using
micromechanics tool.
Main window is opened when ESAComp

is started. Open the Plies window mode
using the button bar and select New from
the right mouse button edit menu.
In the Ply specification window define

Ply identification and specify the ply to
be a Reinforced ply, UD, which is
Transversely isotropic in the 23-plane.
TRANSVERSELY TRANSVERSELY
ISOTROPIC 12 ISOTROPIC 23
Click Composition and type in the ply

composition data. Note that most of this
data is not required for typical analyses.
Click OK.
Click Mechanical data and specify the

Engineering constants...
Some of the engineering constants are
calculated by ESAComp in accordance
with the mechanical behavior of the ply.
Only the in-plane constants are required
for typical laminate analyses. Click OK.
Specify also the Expansion

coefficients... Click OK.
You can also specify e.g. the First failure

stresses and strains… for FPF analyses
and Ultimate stresses and strains…
for DLF analyses.
When you have specified the mechanical data,

click OK to get back to the Ply specification
window. You can also specify the Processing
data, Product data, and Comment for the ply.
The ply identification can be a combination of a

user defined id-string and/or predefined
keywords. Select Keywords… in the Ply
specification window.
Select Fiber from the Keywords available list

and click Expand. Repeat the Expand with
Carbon. Select HS (High Strength) and Add it in
the identification. The upper level keywords, Fiber
and Carbon, appear automatically in the
description. Description Carbon, for instance, is
used in the FPF analysis if Puck failure criteria
are used. Similarly you can specify keywords for 0°
the resin, e.g. Matrix/Epoxy. Click OK. Your ply is 30°
-30°
now identified as HS;Epoxy;Ply demo. 30°
-30°
0°
-30°
Click OK in the Ply specification window. 30°
-30°
30°
x 0°
y
Demo 2: How to specify a laminate z
This demo shows how to specify a sandwich

laminate with ESAComp. The laminate is made
up of 10 carbon/epoxy skin plies and an
aluminum honeycomb core. The laminate lay-up
is (0/+30/-30/+30/-30/0/-30/+30/-30/+30/0). The
plies are imported into the active case from the
ESAComp Data Bank.
ESAComp objects such as plies can be imported

from ESAComp data files (*.edf) using the
database mode. ESAComp data files, which are
referred as cases, are stored on four levels: User,
Company, Data Bank, and Demo.
To import the ply browse: Data Bank, directory

Plies – Reinforced, directory Carbon, directory
Epoxy, ESAComp data file Typical, and select the
skin ply T300;Epoxy;UD-.200/210/60. The import
can be made using button bar, mouse menu, or
drag-and-drop.
Import accordingly the core material 1/8-5052-

0.0015 from Cores - Honeycomb/Aluminum
/Hexel 5052 Alloy Hexagonal Aluminum
Honeycomb.
The imported plies are shown in the active case

window pane.
In the active case mode open the Laminates

window mode using the button bar and select
New from the right mouse button edit menu.
In the Laminate specification window define

Laminate identification. Select Lay-up... from
the Laminate specification window.
Select the plies to be used in the laminate. Add

(or double-click) them into the Selected plies list.
Click OK.
The laminate lay-up is shown here, but

it can only be edited in the Lay-up list.
Layer angles ±theta are for

specifying so-called theta-
laminates applicable to
2.5D behavior analyses.
Symbols a and b are

used for referring to
the selected plies.
Specify the lay-up as follows:

- select skin ply
- select layer angle 0 (pre-selected)
- Add layer to laminate
- type angle 30 and Add layer to laminate,

layer angles 30 and -30 appear in the list
-select angle -30 and Add a layer
- select 30 and -30 layers from the Lay-up list

and Multiply them by 2
- select core, define its thickness t=15 mm,
and Add it to laminate in 0 angle
- select all the layers from the Lay-up list with mouse
and define the laminate to be Symmetric-odd. This
means that the symmetry plane lies in the middle
of the core layer, i.e. the number of layers is odd.
Now you have specified the lay-up for Laminate 1.

You can view the lay-up by clicking View lay-up button.
When the lay-up is done, click OK in the Lay-up and
Laminate specification windows.
Demo 3: Laminate 2.5D behavior analysis
Laminate 2.5D behavior calculates laminate

stiffness and expansion coefficients assuming
in plane stress state. Also, out-of-plane shear
stiffness values are computed.
The demonstrated laminates are imported

into the active case from the ESAComp
Demo level. Alternatively, the case file
including the laminate is opened.
To analyze laminate 2.5D behavior, select

2.5D behavior from the right mouse button Ply Input data can be
analysis menu (case: Short beam test). set on from the result
macro drop-down menu.
Result macros are selected from the

Analysis specification window drop down
menu.
A Single or Multiple values can be given for

the laminate orientation Theta. This provides
a way to study laminate properties in the
global coordinate system as a function of the
laminate orientation.
2.5D behavior analyses are applicable to

theta-laminates and p-laminates as well. In p-
laminates thickness proposition of the
selected p-layers are varied (case: Moisture
diffusion).
Different options for result Display… and
Unit/format… can be defined. Specification
windows can be found under main window
Options drop-down menu.
Several laminates can be selected for

comparative studies. In Multiple analysis
with Multiple theta option 2.5D behavior
analysis variable can be either laminate
orientation or laminates
(case: Free torsion of thin-…).
You can have several result

windows open
simultaneously. When
analysis specification
window is closed, all result
windows are closed unless
Pin-up is used.
Demo 4: Laminate load response
Laminate Load response includes laminate

2.5D behavior analysis results subjected to
the applied loads. As a result layer strains
and stresses in different coordinate
systems can be determined.
Start by opening the case: 4-point bending

located under demo level and open the
Laminates window mode, which includes
Plies and Laminate loads objects as well.
Object windows can be arranged also horizontally

and vertically using Window drop-down menu from
the main window .
When new load is created click first

Laminate loads title bar and use edit New
Object button for example.
In the Laminate load specification

window define Load id. Select External
load type using Radio buttons and define
External loads (E)…
In addition to the variable part, a constant part can

be specified. This partitioning of load into two load
vectors may reflect, for instance, the different physical
natures of the applied loads.
In this demo, existing objects of the demo

case are used. Click Load response/
failure analysis specification button to
open Analysis specification window.
Select Laminate, Load, and Analysis

type. Result macros are selected from the
Analysis specification window drop-down
menu.
View object specification and object comments using

edit View Object button.
Demo 5: Laminate FPF analysis
Laminate FPF analysis calculates how

the laminate is able to withstand the load.
Analysis is based on selected failure
criteria and ply first failure strengths.
Click Load response/failure analysis

specification button to open Analysis
specification window (case: 4-point
bending).
Select Laminate, Load, and Analysis

type. Several laminates and loads can be
selected for comparative studies like in
earlier example. Result macros are
selected from the Analysis specification
window drop down menu.
Result macros include e.g. laminate and

layer reserve factors/margin of safety,
failure modes, and critical layer(s).
Analysis takes into account failure within

layers and interlaminar shear failure in
between layers. In addition, core shear
failure and face sheet wrinkling are
considered for sandwich laminates.
Analysis results indicate criticality of core

shear, cs, and wrinkling. Graphics displays
criticality of individual layers as per “standard
FPF”. Inverse reserve factor, 1/RF, is a very
informative way to identify the most critical
layer.
When analysis type Failure, FPF is

selected, the Analysis options... can be
changed.
FPF analysis can also contain Multiple

failure criteria selected from the list of
pre-defined failure criteria. Software
supports use of user defined criteria as
well.
Effective load vector(s) used in the FPF

analysis are computed by multiplying the
specified nominal load vector(s) by Several result windows can be
open simultaneously. When
Factors of safety.
analysis specification window
is changed, open result
Laminate FPF analysis forms the basis of windows become inactive.
the failure analysis for various structural Their content cannot be
changed from drop-down
elements like panels, beams, and
menus of the result windows.
mechanical joints.
Demo 6: Curved panel analysis
Panel analyses include load response and failure of curved

and flat panels under transverse and in-plane loads. In
addition, buckling and natural frequency analyses can be
performed. It utilizes the ESAComp Elmer FE solver, which
completely replaces the classical plate analyses.
Panel creation is started by clicking edit New Object button

when panel object is active. In Panel specification window
panel Dimensions, Radius of curvature, and used
Laminate are specified.
Geometric reference plane defines the location where the radius of
curvature is defined. Analysis plane is automatically transferred to
the laminate mid-plane.
Panel load may contain multiple point loads, line loads,

pressure loads, two kinds of in-plane loads or a combination
of these.
For point and line loads the location of the load is specified relative
to the panel dimensions. Line type loads (both transverse and in-
plane) are specified in terms of forces per unit length.
Edge supports are specified in a separate

boundary condition specification. Each
degree of freedom at each edge can be
controlled separately. Depending on the
panel geometry, boundary conditions are
applied either in the cylindrical or in the
Cartesian coordinate system. Also, corner-
wise boundary conditions can be specified in
the global coordinate system.
For the analysis select Panel, Panel load,

Boundary condition and Analysis type.
As a result of the simulation several result

contours can be selected for visualization
and additional post processing functions are
provided. (case: 3-point bending)
Different types pan - zoom - rotate

operations are provided for the panel model.
A single or several elements can be

selected through Element select for more
detailed visualization. For the selected
elements, for example, a load response or
an FPF analysis can be performed by
clicking Element FPF…
A laminate load object can be created

through Laminate load creation… , which
may be helpful in improving the laminate
design.
Numeric results are available through

Numeric table… separately for shell and
beam type elements.
Demo 7: Stiffened panel analysis
Flat panel is created by ticking the Flat plate check box and
by specifying the panel Dimensions. Laminate is selected
from the drop-down list.
Different types of stiffeners including hat stiffeners can be

added on both sides of the panel along the x-direction (one
type and side per panel). Stiffeners are specified before the
panel specification under the beam cross section object.
For panels with hat stiffeners the FEA reference

plane can be switched. The default plane is between
the interface of the hat part and the panel laminate.
User can change this reference plane to the
Normal stiffener geometrical midplane of the panel laminate.
cross section is
specified with its
dimensions and
laminate selections.
Stiffener top flange
can be left out.
Hat stiffener cross section specification includes dimensions

and sub-laminate selections for the different parts of the
cross section.
Stiffeners are added to the

panel specification one by
one. For curved panels theta
angle specifies the location of
the stiffener in the cylindrical
coordinate system. The
location can also be specified
in terms of the end distance
b. Theta is disabled for flat
panels.
Individual object windows can be

added from Window drop-down menu.
When a single object is selected
(marked with *) the related objects are
highlighted with “>”. A change in the
properties of an object reflects to all
related objects. Before the change is
performed a confirmation is required.
Panels and hat stiffeners are modeled

with shell elements. Respectively,
normal stiffeners are modeled with
beam elements. Displacements and
FPF results can be visualized
simultaneously or separately for the
different element types. Resultant
forces and moments per unit length
can be displayed for shell elements.
Respectively, element forces and
moments are available for beam
elements. For numeric output, the
specific part type needs to be selected
(case: Stiffened panel).
One result per element is provided. For

displacement results this means that
the output corresponds to the average
nodal solution. ESAComp visualization
shows beam elements as they were
shell elements. “Shell” height is half of
the beam real height.
By default, the panel has 40 elements

in the longer side of the panel. The
number of elements can be
increased through the analysis options.
Demo 8: Cylindrical shell analysis
Cylindrical shell analyses include load

response and failure of a straight or conical
tube under different loading conditions, tube
buckling due to various loads, and tube
natural frequencies.
Tube creation is started by clicking edit New

Object button when cylindrical shell object
is active. In Cylindrical shell specification
window tube Diameter/s, Geometric
reference plane, and used Laminate/s and
associated Length/s for the different tube
sections are specified.
Geometric reference plane specifies the location where
diameter/s of the tube is defined. Also, it defines how
laminate/s is build around the reference plane.
Stiffeners can be introduced both in the

axial and ring directions. Stiffeners are
modeled with beam elements and therefore,
stiffener cross sections must first be created
in the case with New Beam Cross Section.
Different loads can be introduced in the

Cylindrical shell load specification. This
includes the point forces and moments at
the ends of the tube, mass forces due to
acceleration, centrifugal forces due to
spinning and pressure difference over the
tube wall. Also, pressure vessel option is
included.
Point forces and moments are applied as
circumferential nodal forces acting at the end of the
cylinder. Other loads are divided between all
elements. It should be noted that load types
Acceleration and Rotation require that material
density is specified. External (or internal when sign
negative) pressure load creates hoop forces. When
pressure vessel option is checked, axial forces are
created as well. The unit system for the loads can
be changed from options menu (unit/format).
Boundary conditions are applied at the

hub nodes of the invisible boundary
beams, which connect the tube
circumferential edge nodes to a single
center node. Stiff boundary beams are
created automatically when a single
boundary condition is set and they keep
the ends of the cylinder as planes.
Radial deformation of the tube can be
controlled. Internally, this is handled with
the boundary beam axial stiffness.
What comes to the support conditions the tube can

be considered as a beam. As a minimum six degrees
of freedom must be fixed including translations x, y
and z and rotation at least in one end.
Buckling analysis can be performed as a

linear static, which is solved as a linear
eigenvalue analysis. It calculates the first
10 buckling modes. (case: Stiffened
panel).
From the results viewer user can select

the buckling mode and scale the
deformation to better see the buckling
shape. RF indicates the reserve factor
with respect to the applied load.
By default, the parametric FE model has

40 elements in the circumferential
direction. Respectively, in the
longitudinal direction the number of
elements is determined so that the
shape of the element is as square as
possible. Mesh settings can be
controlled through analysis options.
Componeering Inc. www.componeering.com

Itämerenkatu 8 esacomp@componeering.com
FI-00180 Helsinki
Finland Tel. +358 9 4342 1550
Fax +358 9 4342 1551
6/2011 © Componeering Inc.

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ESAComp Quick Start Guide 1

Quick Start Guide for

The Quick Start Guide demonstrates the following functions:

Key Features of ESAComp 4.3

Main window, active case

Active Case tab opens the classic ESAComp GUI.

Main window drop-down menus give access to all major functions.

Object and analysis specification windows are accessed

Right-mouse-button menu provides a handy way to work

Main window, database

With database browser objects can be

A case file (e.g. material data set from a

Objects can be imported from the database

In the active case window pane object

Demo 1: How to specify a ply

This demo shows how to specify a

Main window is opened when ESAComp

In the Ply specification window define

Click Composition and type in the ply

Click Mechanical data and specify the

Specify also the Expansion

You can also specify e.g. the First failure

When you have specified the mechanical data,

The ply identification can be a combination of a

Select Fiber from the Keywords available list

This demo shows how to specify a sandwich

ESAComp objects such as plies can be imported

To import the ply browse: Data Bank, directory

Import accordingly the core material 1/8-5052-

The imported plies are shown in the active case

In the active case mode open the Laminates

In the Laminate specification window define

Select the plies to be used in the laminate. Add

The laminate lay-up is shown here, but

Layer angles ±theta are for

Symbols a and b are

Specify the lay-up as follows:

- type angle 30 and Add layer to laminate,

- select 30 and -30 layers from the Lay-up list

Now you have specified the lay-up for Laminate 1.

Demo 3: Laminate 2.5D behavior analysis

Laminate 2.5D behavior calculates laminate

The demonstrated laminates are imported

To analyze laminate 2.5D behavior, select

Result macros are selected from the

A Single or Multiple values can be given for

2.5D behavior analyses are applicable to

Several laminates can be selected for

You can have several result

Demo 4: Laminate load response

Laminate Load response includes laminate

Start by opening the case: 4-point bending

Object windows can be arranged also horizontally

When new load is created click first

In the Laminate load specification

In addition to the variable part, a constant part can

In this demo, existing objects of the demo

Select Laminate, Load, and Analysis

View object specification and object comments using

Demo 5: Laminate FPF analysis

Laminate FPF analysis calculates how

Click Load response/failure analysis

Select Laminate, Load, and Analysis