CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
10 July 2012
Company News
MSC Software's Marc Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis Plays Key Role in Composite Research
MSC Software Corporation today announced that MSC Software's Marc Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software is playing a role in undergraduate teaching and composites research at Santa Clara University (SCU).
"The unique capabilities of Marc to simulate composite curing and shrinkage is critical in the development of an optimal curing cycle that minimizes curing cycle time and part warpage," said Adjunct Professor T. Kim Parnell of Santa Clara University (SCU).
Curing requirements are strongly dependent on both the part geometry and the resin system. Thermosetting resins are generally exothermic, meaning that they generate heat as they cure. This heat generation may be significant, particularly for thick parts. Likewise, the resin system undergoes shrinkage as it cures. There are competing effects of the need for sufficient external heat applied to initiate the curing, then heat generated by the curing itself, shrinkage associated with curing, and generally thermal expansion from the elevated temperature.
For these reasons, a coupled thermal-curing-mechanical analysis is essential to accurately predict the curing profile, time to cure, degree of cure, and ultimately any warpage, distortion, or residual stress in the final part. All of these effects are tightly coupled, and the capability in Marc is critical to create acceptable parts, according to Professor Parnell. As composites are taking a larger role at SCU in terms of both projects like the SAE Formula Hybrid vehicle, and in classes like Composite Materials and in Finite Element Theory & Applications, students are learning first-hand about the requirements and special considerations needed for composites.
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