Latest Version of Digital Modeling Software Released

e-Xstream engineering, part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, has launched the latest version of its Digimat multi-scale material modeling software, extending its advanced composite design capabilities across all scales as part of the Hexagon 10X Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) solution.

Digimat’s integration with molecular dynamics software has been enhanced to extend its micro-level capabilities to predict a material’s properties based on its chemical structure. On the meso-level, the direct engineering workflow for unidirectional composites has also been enhanced, enabling ply properties prediction based on their physical and virtual constituents.

The effect of defects, such as porosity or gaps from Automatic Fiber Placement can now be characterized at the full-scale coupon level using the progressive failure analysis (PFA) models developed in collaboration with Pr. Camanho. As a result, the margins-of-safety engineers use to optimize material use and lightweight parts may be optimized with greater confidence.

Digimat 2020 makes this advanced PFA modelling available within Marc, MSC Nastran as well as other structural analysis software via user subroutine, so that engineers can make detailed and accurate damage predictions of structures under load, reducing over engineering.

Design for manufacturing is also improved. New capabilities help manufacturers avoid costly tooling rework by embedding a digital twin of the composite manufacturing process from Digimat within thermo-mechanical finite element analyses tools such as Marc, Abaqus or LS Dyna. This open integration enables the designer to account for distortions introduced by processing and modify their mould design to achieve the required geometry.

For more information please visit www.e-xstream.com/whats-new-digimat-2020.0.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.