Run Draping Simulations
Run the draping simulation to analyse the ply producibility and to create the ply flat patterns. Draping simulation also helps understand the changes in the orientation of the material fibers when a ply follows the geometry of a surface.
You can create only one draping simulation feature in a composite feature. If a draping simulation feature already exists, you can use the same Draping Simulation command to redefine the feature. When you change the ply properties or the material properties, the default values of the seed point, step length, and draping angle are automatically recalculated.
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Using the appropriate rosette type for the specific ply shape can produce more accurate draping results, eliminating the need for multiple Cartesian rosettes. To learn how to specify a rosette type, see Define a Rosette. To learn how to use the Search Tool to identify the rosettes with a specific projection type, see Identify a Rosette Based on the Projection Type.
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To run the draping simulation on many plies, it is easier to use an object-action approach. Select the plies first and then use the Draping Simulation command.
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Run the draping simulation as follows:
1. Click 
Draping Simulation. The Draping Simulation tab opens.
Draping Simulation. The Draping Simulation tab opens.2. In the Sets tab, select a set or click Add new set to create a new set. Define the set highlighted on the right as follows:
a. Click in the Ply box and select a ply from the Laminate Tree. Draping results are displayed in the graphics window along with the seed point highlighted in yellow and the results legend.
b. Optionally, click Advanced Draping, and then select a curve or chain in the Seed curve box as the fixed warp fiber for the draping simulation. When the ply is created using a curve-based rosette, the curve used to define the rosette automatically appears in the Seed curve box.
▪ To select a different seed curve, click in the Seed curve box, and then select a different curve or chain.
▪ To remove the seed curve, right-click the Seed curve box, and then select Remove.
 | To be used as a seed curve, the curve or chain must: • Maintain continuous contact with the ply surface along the portion that lies within the ply boundary. • Not cross or touch any interior holes within the ply boundary. |
c. To change the default location of the seed point, click in the Seed point box and do one of the following:
▪ Select an existing datum or field point within the ply boundary.
▪ Create a datum point within the ply boundary, and then select the point as the seed point. To create a datum point, click > 
Point.
Point.▪ Select a location within the ply boundary.
▪ When the ply is hidden, you can unhide the ply to use the above-mentioned options or drag the seed point within the ply boundary.
| | When the seed curve is defined, you can define the seed point only on the selected curve or chain. |
d. Click in the Step length box and type or select the resolution of the draping simulation. You can enter a smaller number for the higher resolution.
| | In general, it is recommended to keep the step length less than half the size of the smallest ply geometric feature to be captured by the drape. |
e. Specify the angular offset of the draping simulation direction from the material roll direction in the Draping angle offset box. Alternatively, use the drag handle adjacent to the seed point to manually adjust the angular offset. The default value is based on the first constituent fiber angle that is defined in the material definition. You cannot specify the angular offset when the seed curve is defined.
f. Click in the Simplification angle box and type or select the angular tolerance between polyline segments. Polyline segments merge if the angular tolerance between the polyline segments is smaller than that specified in Simplification angle box.
g. Select Drape over underlying plies to calculate the ply location and generate the ply shape by considering the thickness of the underlying plies in the laminate stack and then perform the draping simulation based on the generated ply shape.
| | When you modify the boundary or the thickness of a ply, draping results for the plies above in the layup stack regenerates when all the following conditions are meet: • The plies were draped with the Drape over underlying plies option selected. • The plies overlap the modified ply before or after the change. |
h. To specify whether to use the cured or uncured state of all plies for the thickness of the underlying plies, select one of the following options in the Options tab.
▪ Cured ply thickness
▪ Uncured ply thickness
i. Select Draping refinement to increase the refinement of the drape, particularly for smaller plies on larger layup surfaces.
3. In the results legend, select one of the following types of the result:
◦ Shear—Shows shear deformations of the draped ply.
◦ Longitudinal Orientation—Shows the true orientation of the ply longitudinal direction due to draping.
◦ Transverse Orientation—Shows the true orientation of the ply transverse direction due to draping.
◦ Draped Ply Thickness—Shows the true ply thickness due to draping.
4. Select one of the following legend scaling for shear results in the Scale to list:
a. Max/Min—Scale the legend to the maximum and minimum values of the result.
b. Warn/Limit Angle—Scale the legend to the material warn and limit angles. This scaling is applicable only for shear results. When the warn angle and limit angles are specified in the material definition, shear results are displayed by default with Warn/Limit Angle scaling.
5. (Optional) Click 
Auxiliary Display to see the flat pattern of the selected ply in a separate window.
Auxiliary Display to see the flat pattern of the selected ply in a separate window.6. Click 
OK.
OK.View the Drape Status
To view the drape status, click 
Draping Manager on the Laminate Tree. The drape status is identified as follows:
Draping Manager on the Laminate Tree. The drape status is identified as follows:• 
— The maximum absolute shear value result is below the warn angle for the material.
— The maximum absolute shear value result is below the warn angle for the material.• 
— The maximum absolute shear value result is above the warn angle but below the limit angle for the material.
— The maximum absolute shear value result is above the warn angle but below the limit angle for the material.• 
— The maximum absolute shear value result is above the limit angle for the material.
— The maximum absolute shear value result is above the limit angle for the material.• 
— The warn angle and/or limit angle are missing in the material definition.
— The warn angle and/or limit angle are missing in the material definition.• 
— The ply failed the draping simulation.
— The ply failed the draping simulation.The following icons may appear before the ply name to indicate an error:
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— The ply roll width is not specified in the material definition dialog.
— The ply roll width is not specified in the material definition dialog.• 
— The ply is wider than the specified roll width.
— The ply is wider than the specified roll width.Display the Draping Results after the Draping Simulation
• To activate the display mode of the draping results, click > 
Show Draping Results on the graphics toolbar. You can select plies, one at a time, to see their draping results. The draping results of a ply are displayed only when the ply has successful draping results.
Show Draping Results on the graphics toolbar. You can select plies, one at a time, to see their draping results. The draping results of a ply are displayed only when the ply has successful draping results.• To deactivate the display mode of the draping results, click > Show Draping Results on the graphics toolbar.
Show Draping Results on the graphics toolbar.Display the Flat Pattern Preview after the Draping Simulation
• To open a separate window to display flat pattern preview, click > 
Flat Pattern Preview on the graphics toolbar. You can select plies, one at a time, to see their flat pattern.
Flat Pattern Preview on the graphics toolbar. You can select plies, one at a time, to see their flat pattern.• To close the window, click > Flat Pattern Preview on the graphics toolbar.
Flat Pattern Preview on the graphics toolbar.