Hello All,

I am trying to model a composite in Abaqus, and specifically trying to capture the fiber realignment on loading.

One of the approaches I am considering is to homogenize the fiber layer and define anisotropic material properties that rotate on loading. This coordinate system should rotate following the direction of a prescribed edge of each element.

As far as I know, all the options in ABAQUS, including the ORIENT subroutine allow for the definition of the orientation at time t=0. However, I would like to update my material orientation at each time step as a function of the deformed nodal coordinates. Any thoughts or ideas on how to implement the same in ABAQUS. Would this be possible within UMAT? And would there be an easier way?