FiberSim 2009 simplifies composite-part design

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 25, 2009

Vistagy has announced the latest version of its suite of composites-engineering software, FiberSim 2009, which features several enhancements.

FiberSim enables users to more easily define composite parts, provides improved functionality for resolving manufacturing issues and enhances the link between analysis and design.

FiberSim 2009 simplifies composite-part design with the addition of the global stagger profile, partial boundary editor and design checker as well as enhancements to zone-based design and core definition tools.

With global stagger profile, users can select a desired drop-off profile and FiberSim will assign that profile to the entire part, which improves the ability to update designs by eliminating the need to manually adjust each transition.

Partial boundary editor gives the user the ability to reduce layer boundary calculations by highlighting a specific region of the part, which reduces time spent waiting for recalculations.

Design checker is a new design status report that alerts users when flat patterns need to be generated, plies need to be spliced or objects are out-of-date.

For example, the report validates boundaries and identifies poor modelling practices so problems with overlapping geometry can be avoided.

With simplified zone-based design, users can define a trimming or extending angle for zone transition areas, which greatly simplifies the generation of complex transitional shapes.

In addition, the ability to display zone name, thickness and ply count as well as control zone highlight colours based on assigned laminate specifications also enhances zone visualisation, making it easier to interpret designs.

FiberSim 2009 defines additional core types that simplify core panel definition.

The software also improves error detection and reporting while eliminating inconsistencies.

In addition, Vistagy has developed improved tools for resolving manufacturability issues in FiberSim 2009 with enhancements to the Automated Deposition Design (ADD) optional module: Design for manufacturing - the ADD now automatically creates and places bird beaks and bat ears in the preliminary stages of design.

Producibility feedback - early identification of minimum course length issues streamlines the product development cycle.

Minimum trim angle - automated tape-laying machines have a minimum deposition angle between the path of the machine and the ply boundary.

A new utility identifies portions of the ply boundary that violate this minimum angle in the design phase, when it is far less costly to identify than once it reaches the manufacturing floor.

The automated deposition machine database enables users to define the tape-laying and fibre-placement parameters of their particular machines to ensure standard use of machine parameters across all parts.

FiberSim 2009 features expanded integration of analysis and design with enhanced definition and interoperability between CAE and CAD for composite design.

By maintaining separate analysis and design zones with linked laminate specifications, users can propagate analysis updates without manual intervention.

This speeds the preliminary design process so a greater number of iterations can be performed, resulting in an optimised design.