SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium gives users the ability to consider composite materials for shell structures. Composites offer high stiffness and strength to weight ratios, making them desirable for the application in many industries. Composite shells are a special orthotropic material that is modelled as a single surface with multiple layers of orthotropic material properties. For this reason users define composites using the Shell Manager. Composite Ply Count is specified and material properties are specified using the pre-installed or user defined material library. Once a material is applied, the ply thickness and angle are specified for each ply layer. Users can consider symmetric and unsymmetric laminates as well as sandwich composites. The ply angle can be adjusted for each layer with a graphical representation of the ply orientation shown directly on the model geometry. Model connections such as pins, springs, bolts, welds and loading are all applied using the same intuitive simulation interface. The same powerful meshing tools and automatic solver selection are also available for users to quickly run the analysis. Results for composites can be shown for each ply to quickly identify the highest stresses. Maximum barriers across all ply can also be plotted. Failure of composites can be considered using the Tai Hill, the Sai Wu and the Maximum Stress Criteria which can predict global naminate failure as a result of stresses in each ply. SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium allows users to quickly adjust layer count, thickness, angle and material of each layer in order to improve and optimise models manufactured from composite materials.