Thermokinetic simulation

A precise analysis of the heating and cooling processes is vital for predicting process-induced residual strains. Our simulation tools accurately model the temperature distribution and contain sophisticated models to derive shrinkage strains due to cross-linking or crystallization. This analysis can be done either as part of a fully featured warpage simulation or standalone, e.g., for a quick assessment of a cooling system design.

Structural performance assessment

Predicting process-induced residual stresses enables a better estimation of the expected performance of the part. Important aspects are, for instance, fatigue or strength. Transferring the warpage simulation results to other numerical models can be achieved using SimuChain.

Warpage prediction of components

Warpage is caused by shrinkage strains due to changes in temperature or morphology of the polymer. Depending on the applied thermal boundary conditions, stress gradients in the through-thickness direction lead to a deformation of the part’s shape. When using composite materials, the distribution and orientation of fibers are additional sources of stress gradients. Calculating the resulting stress state enables to predict the corresponding part deformation and to check whether prescribed tolerances will be met.

Warpage optimization

A warpage simulation incorporates many aspects defined during part and process design. It can therefore be utilized to determine the sensitivity of the resulting part shape with respect to these design variables. Among others, this allows minimization of warpage or a deliberate adjustment of the part’s shape. The latter might be used to provoke a specific residual stress state which is beneficial for the targeted application of the part.

Warpage prediction of assemblies

If a warped component is part of a larger assembly, deformation of the individual component and connected parts will occur after mounting. This deformation can be predicted by incorporating the assembly into the simulation model without the need to conduct expensive experimental trials.

Continuous integration in CAE chains

SimuWarp can be integrated with existing CAE tool chains to import initial conditions like fiber orientation or temperature from preceding simulations. Similarly, the results of SimuWarp can be exported for use in downstream numerical analyses. This result transfer (mapping) can be achieved using, e.g., SimuChain and allows to accompany the creation of a part during manufacturing in a holistic way and provides essential input data for estimating the expected component performance.

Continuously fiber-reinforced composites

Continuously fiber-reinforced composites are modeled in SimuWarp in form of laminates which usually consist of several differently oriented plies. The local fiber orientation of these individual plies is the result of a forming process step and an important quantity for accurate prediction of warpage. Forming of such a stack of textiles therefore needs to be predicted beforehand e.g. by using SimuDrape.

Supported manufacturing processes:

• Compression molding of thermoplastic tape laminates, Organosheets or thermoset prepregs
• Resin transfer molding processes based on dry engineering textiles like non-crimp fabrics (UD-NCF) or woven fabrics

Discontinuously fiber-reinforced composites

Parts made of discontinuously fiber-reinforced composites are shaped during a molding process. As this involves a significant flow of the filled polymer material, important properties like fiber orientation or temperature are constantly altered during mold filling. The resulting spatial distribution of such properties are vital input parameters for a meaningful warpage simulation. SimuFill allows to calculate the required data beforehand while SimuChain can be used to transfer the data to the warpage simulation model.

Supported manufacturing processes:

• Compression molding of long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT), glass mat thermoplastics (GMT) and sheet molding compound (SMC)
• Injection molding with or without fibers

Kinetics

Crosslinking and crystallization significantly impact the development of the mechanical properties of the composite and the build-up of residual strains. We offer several state-of-the-art characterization techniques for thermosetting and thermoplastic materials:

• Flash DSC, fast DSC, and conventional DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) for reaction kinetics of thermosets and crystallization kinetics of thermoplastics
• TGA (Thermogravimetric analysis) for determination of polymer content

Mechanical properties

Properties of thermosetting and thermoplastic materials vary significantly throughout the manufacturing process. Besides influence from cross-linking or crystallization, the mechanical behavior also heavily depends on temperature and strain rates. To characterize these effects, we offer the following well suited measurement techniques:

• Rheometer measurements with isothermal and non-isothermal temperature profiles for determination of temperature and time dependent changes of mechanical properties
• DMA (Dynamic mechanical analysis) for measurement of viscoelastic properties of thermosets and thermoplastics

Thermal expansion and shrinkage

Process-induced residual strains leading to warpage comprise contributions from changes in temperature and the polymer’s morphology. We offer the following standard characterization methods:

• TMA (Thermomechanical analysis) for thermal expansion measurement of thermosets and thermoplastics
• Rheometer gap measurement for determination of chemical shrinkage of thermosets

Thermophysical properties

Temperature is a crucial process quantity as it influences many important material and process properties. However, the spatial distribution of temperature constantly changes during processing. Its prediction requires knowledge of thermophysical properties, e.g. glass transition temperature, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and density. For this, we can offer several measurement methods:

• Capillary rheometer for characterizing pvT (pressure-volume-temperature) behavior and heat conductivity of thermosets and thermoplastics
• DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) for determination of the heat capacity of the polymer

Case Studies

• …coming soon!

Publications

• Bernath: Numerical prediction of curing and process-induced distortion of composite structures (Dissertation), Karlsruhe: KIT Scientific Publishing, 2021
• Bernath et al.: Experimental and numerical study of the spring-in of angled brackets manufactured using different resins and fiber textiles, Journal of Composite Materials, 53(28-30), p. 4173-4188, 2019
• Henning et al.: Fast processing and continuous simulation of automotive structural composite components, Composites Science and Technology, 71, p. 261-279, 2019
• Bernath et al.: Accurate Cure Modeling for Isothermal Processing of Fast Curing Epoxy Resins, Polymers, 8(11), p. 390, 2016