Composites software eases design process

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 2, 2008

One of the most significant new features in fibreSIM 5.4 is its integration with MSC.Software's SimXpert finite element analysis (FEA) software.

Vistagy fibreSIM 5.4 composites product development software delivers optimised composites designs in a shorter period of time by enabling engineers to perform more design iterations later in the development process-which is essential to evaluating tradeoffs between part performance, weight and manufacturing cost.

The software offers an improved link between analysis and design and new tools that enable engineers to design specifically for the manufacturing process.

One of the most significant new features in fibreSIM 5.4 is its integration with MSC.Software's SimXpert finite element analysis (FEA) software.

FEA mesh information created in SimXpert can now be communicated to fibreSIM with the click of a button, creating a common data representation and design tool for composite lay-up.

Previous to this link, two different sets of geometry existed-3D CAD geometry and FEA geometry.

Because fibreSIM is completely integrated into commercial 3D CAD systems, the fibreSIM composite definition and SimXpert's FEA definition are linked directly to the same CAD geometry.

This allows products to be designed, validated and optimised without having to translate volumes of data between different software tools.

As a result, the solution eliminates data translations and inconsistencies between design and analysis and more effectively manages design changes throughout the development cycle.

Due to fibreSIM's capability to update a composite design while preserving the design intent, engineers don't have to start the design over from scratch each time they receive new specifications.

This makes it possible to perform more iterations of the design much later in the development process, delivering more optimised parts in less time.

Vistagy continues to improve the ability of engineers to design specifically for the chosen composite manufacturing process using the latest tools in fibreSIM.

New capabilities for generating ramp surfaces between ply zones handle multidirectional curvature and allow filleting of the ramp sections, resulting in an accurate surface for the creation of tooling.

Tools for colour-coding plies based on material type and ply orientation provide rapid feedback on boundaries and sequences and give engineers a visual representation of the composition of the part to aid the manufacturing process.

New tools allow engineers to develop parts with more complex core conditions and support the multitude of ways engineers want to design with core.

In addition to tools for splicing for material width, fibreSIM 5.4 now provides the capability to splice for material handling requirements to aid the lay-up process.

Many enhancements also make the tool simpler to operate.

In addition to traditional .pdf help documentation, fibreSIM 5.4 now delivers html-based help that is much like browsing a web page, making it more intuitive and easier to find answers to questions.

Context-sensitive help is also introduced in this new release.

The software understands the step in the process the user is currently engaged in and automatically goes to the proper page in the help documentation to present the solution to the problem.

This reduces the time required to find answers to software use questions.