Vistagy will begin shipping FiberSIM 2009, the latest version of its suite of composite engineering software that the company said enables users to define composite parts, provide improved functionality for resolving manufacturing issues, and enhance the link between analysis and design.
FiberSIM 2009 adds 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 allows users to reduce layer boundary calculations by highlighting a specific region of the part, which reduces time spent waiting for recalculations.
Design checker alerts users when flat patterns need to be generated, plies need to be spliced, or objects are out of date.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 modeling practices, so problems with overlapping geometry can be avoided.
Simplified zone-based design allows users to 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 colors based on assigned laminate specifications, also enhance zone visualization, making it easier to interpret designs.
Vistagy said FiberSIM 2009 defines additional core types that simplify core panel definition. The software also improves error detection and reporting while eliminating inconsistencies.
A utility in FiberSIM 2009 identifies portions of the ply boundary that violate the minimum deposition angle between the path of the machine and the ply boundary in the design phase.
Additional features include 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.