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Simulating the crushing of composites
Processing news
Self releasing tubular bagging film Simulating the crushing A SMALL bore tubing bagging multilayer film technology. It of composites film for the manufacture of has good release of epoxy and high performance hollow parts is being introduced by Airtech Europe of Luxembourg. The Dahlar® Release Bag 520 is a self releasing, multilayer bagging film for direct contact with prepreg for fabrication of hollow parts. It is said to have superior strength, temperature resistance up to 220°C and the vacuum integrity of Airtech’s
polyester resins. The release bag is also available in gusseted folding making it easier to position the bag accurately in hollow parts. It can be used in applications with variations in the part diameter, and provides even application of internal pressure. Airtech Europe; www.airtech.lu
Designing submarine parts HOWALDTSWERKE-Deutsch Werft GmbH is using VISTAGY’S FiberSIM® engineering software to design and manufacture composite parts for submarines. Moving from a manual to an automated solution with FiberSIM, HDW will be able to develop initial designs quicker and see the impact of design changes earlier in the process. The FiberSIM Laser Projection™ software enables the reduction of errors and shortening of lay-up
time by displaying ply outlines directly on the lay-up tool. “The use of composite materials in the marine industry is growing rapidly, so companies that have been engineering composites manually are now faced with the need to change the way they think about the entire process,” notes Scott Carlyle, VISTAGY vice president worldwide sales. VISTAGY; www.vistagy.com
Composite analysis software aids launch vehicle A PARTNERSHIP to speed up the construction of XCOR’s composite two-seat Lynx suborbital launch vehicle has been announced by XCOR and Firehole Technologies of Laramie, Wyoming, USA. Firehole's analysis software Helius:MCT™, which takes the properties of both the fibre and matrix into account, will help XCOR to analyse its composite construction before and during construction, and reduce costs. “One of the key techniques that make it possible for a small firm like XCOR to build a fully reusable launch vehicle
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REINFORCEDplastics
is composite construction,” says Jeff Greason, CEO at XCOR of Mojave, California, USA. “Composite construction provides strength, is light weight, and gives you flexibility in your aerodynamic design.” The Lynx, which is about the same size as a small private aircraft, will take people or payloads to altitudes of 200 000 ft and reach speeds of at least twice the speed of sound. The first flight is scheduled for 2010. Firehole Technologies; www.fireholetech.com XCOR; www.xcor.com
January/February 2009
AN ADD-ON to the Abaqus finite element analysis (FEA) SIMULIA software from Dassault Systèmes (DS) of Vélizy-Villacoublay, France, enables simulation of the crushing of composite materials. The CZone add-on is said to enable engineers to accelerate the design and evaluation of energy-absorbing composite components and assemblies through the study of the crushing behaviour of composite structures in cars, aircraft, trains and other transport vehicles to protect passengers and cargo. Based on technology from UK-based Engenuity Ltd, CZone includes direct implementation of crush-based element force generation and failure for defined ‘crush zones’, which are typically located at the forward edges of a product. CZone for
Abaqus determines the extent of composite material crushing as well as other modes of potential failure, such as delamination, fracture, and buckling. “Bentley Motors has plans to incorporate more composite structure materials ...,” says Antony Dodworth, Principal Research Manager at Bentley Motors Ltd. “Before embarking on the development of costly vehicle prototypes, we need to have simulation technology that enables us to have confidence in predicting the crashworthiness of composite-intensive structures that is comparable to what we have today for evaluating the steel structures. The combination of CZone and Abaqus will provide us this critical simulation tool.” DS; www.3ds.com
Ashland acquires SmartTrac technology COMPOSITE RESINS supplier Ashland Performance Materials has acquired the SmartTrac process control technology from Signature Control Systems (SCS). SmartTrac is designed to help composites moulders improve cycle time and reduce scrap. Denver, Colorado, USA-based SCS develops technology that senses precise cure points from within the mould. The SmartTrac impedance monitoring system controls the press release through connections to the press and sensors embedded within the mould. “Customers who work with sheet or bulk moulding compound, or resin transfer
moulding processes can realise significant cost advantages by using this technology to improve cycle time and reduce scrap,” claims Gary Landsettle, Ashland Performance Materials director of sales for the Americas. With this acquisition, Ashland becomes the exclusive provider of this technology to the global composite market. “SCS has been a technology partner with Ashland since 2003, and this proven monitoring technology is a natural fit for the resin technology we already bring to our customers,” Landsettle adds. Ashland Inc; www.ashland.com SCS; www.signaturecontrol.com
Self releasing tubular bagging film Simulating the crushing A SMALL bore tubing bagging multilayer film technology. It of composites film for the manufacture of has good release of epoxy and high performance hollow parts is being introduced by Airtech Europe of Luxembourg. The Dahlar® Release Bag 520 is a self releasing, multilayer bagging film for direct contact with prepreg for fabrication of hollow parts. It is said to have superior strength, temperature resistance up to 220°C and the vacuum integrity of Airtech’s
polyester resins. The release bag is also available in gusseted folding making it easier to position the bag accurately in hollow parts. It can be used in applications with variations in the part diameter, and provides even application of internal pressure. Airtech Europe; www.airtech.lu
Designing submarine parts HOWALDTSWERKE-Deutsch Werft GmbH is using VISTAGY’S FiberSIM® engineering software to design and manufacture composite parts for submarines. Moving from a manual to an automated solution with FiberSIM, HDW will be able to develop initial designs quicker and see the impact of design changes earlier in the process. The FiberSIM Laser Projection™ software enables the reduction of errors and shortening of lay-up
time by displaying ply outlines directly on the lay-up tool. “The use of composite materials in the marine industry is growing rapidly, so companies that have been engineering composites manually are now faced with the need to change the way they think about the entire process,” notes Scott Carlyle, VISTAGY vice president worldwide sales. VISTAGY; www.vistagy.com
Composite analysis software aids launch vehicle A PARTNERSHIP to speed up the construction of XCOR’s composite two-seat Lynx suborbital launch vehicle has been announced by XCOR and Firehole Technologies of Laramie, Wyoming, USA. Firehole's analysis software Helius:MCT™, which takes the properties of both the fibre and matrix into account, will help XCOR to analyse its composite construction before and during construction, and reduce costs. “One of the key techniques that make it possible for a small firm like XCOR to build a fully reusable launch vehicle
18
REINFORCEDplastics
is composite construction,” says Jeff Greason, CEO at XCOR of Mojave, California, USA. “Composite construction provides strength, is light weight, and gives you flexibility in your aerodynamic design.” The Lynx, which is about the same size as a small private aircraft, will take people or payloads to altitudes of 200 000 ft and reach speeds of at least twice the speed of sound. The first flight is scheduled for 2010. Firehole Technologies; www.fireholetech.com XCOR; www.xcor.com
January/February 2009
AN ADD-ON to the Abaqus finite element analysis (FEA) SIMULIA software from Dassault Systèmes (DS) of Vélizy-Villacoublay, France, enables simulation of the crushing of composite materials. The CZone add-on is said to enable engineers to accelerate the design and evaluation of energy-absorbing composite components and assemblies through the study of the crushing behaviour of composite structures in cars, aircraft, trains and other transport vehicles to protect passengers and cargo. Based on technology from UK-based Engenuity Ltd, CZone includes direct implementation of crush-based element force generation and failure for defined ‘crush zones’, which are typically located at the forward edges of a product. CZone for
Abaqus determines the extent of composite material crushing as well as other modes of potential failure, such as delamination, fracture, and buckling. “Bentley Motors has plans to incorporate more composite structure materials ...,” says Antony Dodworth, Principal Research Manager at Bentley Motors Ltd. “Before embarking on the development of costly vehicle prototypes, we need to have simulation technology that enables us to have confidence in predicting the crashworthiness of composite-intensive structures that is comparable to what we have today for evaluating the steel structures. The combination of CZone and Abaqus will provide us this critical simulation tool.” DS; www.3ds.com
Ashland acquires SmartTrac technology COMPOSITE RESINS supplier Ashland Performance Materials has acquired the SmartTrac process control technology from Signature Control Systems (SCS). SmartTrac is designed to help composites moulders improve cycle time and reduce scrap. Denver, Colorado, USA-based SCS develops technology that senses precise cure points from within the mould. The SmartTrac impedance monitoring system controls the press release through connections to the press and sensors embedded within the mould. “Customers who work with sheet or bulk moulding compound, or resin transfer
moulding processes can realise significant cost advantages by using this technology to improve cycle time and reduce scrap,” claims Gary Landsettle, Ashland Performance Materials director of sales for the Americas. With this acquisition, Ashland becomes the exclusive provider of this technology to the global composite market. “SCS has been a technology partner with Ashland since 2003, and this proven monitoring technology is a natural fit for the resin technology we already bring to our customers,” Landsettle adds. Ashland Inc; www.ashland.com SCS; www.signaturecontrol.com