Extended modules > Creo Elements/Direct Finite Element Analysis > Material libraries > Create a material database
  
Create a material database
The following sections describe how to build your own materials database using the sample database (test_materials.dat) as a template.
* 
The preferred method to create your own material database is described in Create and edit a material database.
1. Property map
Specify a property map (see below). This maps the material properties (specified by keywords) to an index (an unique number between 0 and 30). In addition you specify a format which is used to convert the property.
Example:
4 : %lg : DENSITY
| | |
index format keyword
Colons are used to separate the fields. Each entry must be on a separate line. A left brace ({identifies the beginning of the map, and a right brace}) closes it. Both must be on separate lines.
You can choose from the following keywords:
Keyword
Type
Format
NAME
string
%s
LOCALID
string
%s
MATID
string
%s
DENSITY
float
%lg
YOUNG_1
float
%lg
YOUNG_2
float
%lg
YOUNG_3
float
%lg
SHEAR_1
float
%lg
SHEAR_2
float
%lg
SHEAR_3
float
%lg
POISS_1
float
%lg
POISS_2
float
%lg
POISS_3
float
%lg
T_EXPANSION_1
float
%lg
T_EXPANSION_2
float
%lg
T_EXPANSION_3
float
%lg
T_CONDUCT_1
float
%lg
T_CONDUCT_2
float
%lg
T_CONDUCT_3
float
%lg
YIELD_STRENGTH
float
%lg
ULTIMATE_STRENGTH
float
%lg
FAILURE_STRENGTH
float
%lg
SPECIFIC_HEAT
float
%lg
REF_TEMP
float
%lg
2. The material entries
Following the property map you can specify your materials. To do this, refer to the indices used in the property map.
Example 1: DENSITY entry
4 : 7850.0
| |
index value
Example 2: NAME entry
1 : My special material
| |
index value
The material properties with numerical values must be specified in the units listed in the second column in the table below. Once you have specified your database in the correct units, the materials can be displayed and handled according to the unit settings in Creo Elements/Direct Finite Element Analysis. The third column indicates which unit settings are used in Creo Elements/Direct Finite Element Analysis for the material properties.
Name property map
Units
Units settings used in Creo Elements/Direct Finite Element Analysis
DENSITY
kg / m^3
DA_DENSITY
YOUNG_1-3
N / mm^2
DA_STRESS
SHEAR_1-3
N / mm^2
DA_STRESS
POISS_1-3
-
-
T_EXPANSION_1-3
1 / K
1 / DA_TEMPERATURE-DIFFERENCE
T_CONDUCT_1-3
W / m K
DA_CONDUCTIVITY
YIELD_STRENGTH
N / mm^2
DA_STRESS
ULTIMATE_STRENGTH
N / mm^2
DA_STRESS
FAILURE_STRENGTH
N / mm^2
DA_STRESS
SPECIFIC_HEAT
J/ kg K
DA_SPECIFIC_HEAT
REF_TEMP
K
DA_TEMPERATURE
• As format specifications, only the double precision formats %lg %lf %le are supported. It is strongly recommended to use %lg.
• Each entry must be defined in one line.
• The entries can be in any arbitrary order, but must be unique and consistent.
• Not all properties need to be defined in the map, and they can be omitted in the material definition. However there must be a minimum of properties specified:
NAME LOCALID MATID DENSITY YOUNG_1 YOUNG_2 YOUNG_3 POISS_1 POISS_2 POISS_3
For thermal analysis, additionally you must specify the following property:
T_EXPANSION_1-3 T_CONDUCT_1-3 REF_TEMP
* 
Blanks are not allowed in LOCALID.
Example of a material database:
# Property map:
#
{
1 : %s : NAME
2 : %s : LOCALID
3 : %s : MATID
4 : %lg : DENSITY
5 : %lg : YOUNG_1
6 : %lg : YOUNG_2
7 : %lg : YOUNG_3
8 : %lg : SHEAR_1
9 : %lg : SHEAR_2
10 : %lg : SHEAR_3
11 : %lg : POISS_1
12 : %lg : POISS_2
13 : %lg : POISS_3
14 : %lg : T_EXPANSION_1
15 : %lg : T_EXPANSION_2
16 : %lg : T_EXPANSION_3
17 : %lg : T_CONDUCT_1
18 : %lg : T_CONDUCT_2
19 : %lg : T_CONDUCT_3
20 : %lg : YIELD_STRENGTH
21 : %lg : ULTIMATE_STRENGTH
22 : %lg : FAILURE_STRENGTH
23 : %lg : SPECIFIC_HEAT
25 : %lg : REF_TEMP
}
# 1st Material entry
{
2 : MAT_1
1 : Structural Steel
3 : Metal
4 : 7850.0
5 : 200000.0
6 : 200000.0
7 : 200000.0
8 : 76920
9 : 76920
10 : 76920
11 : 0.3
12 : 0.3
13 : 0.3
14 : 1.2E-5
15 : 1.2E-5
16 : 1.2E-5
}
{
2 : MAT_2
1 : Stainless Steel
3 : Metal
4 : 7750.0
5 : 193000.0
6 : 193000.0
7 : 193000.0
8 : 73664.0
9 : 73664.0
10 : 73664.0
11 : 0.31
12 : 0.31
13 : 0.31
14 : 1.36E-5
15 : 1.36E-5
16 : 1.36E-5
}
{
2 : MAT_15
1 : Aluminium Al
3 : Heat Test
4 : 2700.0e+0
5 : 68600
6 : 68600
7 : 68600
11 : 0.33
12 : 0.33
13 : 0.33
14 : 2.34e-05
15 : 2.34e-05
16 : 2.34e-05
17 : 220.0
18 : 220.0
19 : 220.0
20 : 28.5
21 : 68.85
22 : 28.5
23 : 465.0
25 : 273.15
}