Manufacturers in an ever-widening array of industries are discovering the versatility of composites for strong, lightweight designs. Whatever the application, for the most cost-efficient and highest performance use of these advanced materials, design optimization software is essential.

Now, NASA-born Collier Research, has just released HyperSizer Express, which delivers the capabilities of Collier’s high-end HyperSizer tool in a user-friendly package aimed at the composite engineer.

“Not every designer or engineer working with composites needs all the options in the professional version of our software,” says Collier founder and president Craig Collier. “But they do want the robustness of a proven, core analytical code running underneath, from the very early stages of their design process.!”

Collier notes that 95% of users can, without a manual or instruction, import their finite element model (FEM) into Express and produce composite laminates that satisfy all analyses to all load cases within 30 minutes. The automatically updated model will arrive at the minimum weight with global plies identified, layer by layer, producing fully manufacturable laminate designs.

“This kind of nonparametric optimization in Express is one reason it is so easy to use,” says Collier. “You don’t have to put in constraints or minimum/maximum values. You just say, ‘I want to make this out of carbon fiber,’ or ‘I want to make this out of fiberglass,’ and the software will show you the optimum solution based on your FEM.”

Tighter coupling to FEA optimizes product behavior analysis

Express is even more tightly coupled to FEA programs, such as NASTRAN and Abaqus, than the Pro version is. “Tight FEA coupling is key for the types of mechanical response analysis an engineer would carry out with Express,” says Collier. “These are driven primarily by bending stiffness, which requires a direct interaction with FEA solutions when optimizing laminate stackings.”

“These capabilities meet the needs of a broad range of composite engineers who work with laminates as well as with honeycomb or foam cored sandwiches,” he says.

Applications can include:

• Medical – Orthopedic prostheses

• Industrial – Robotic end effectors

• Wind Energy – Turbine blades

• Aerospace – Seats, doors, winglets, flaps

A deep aerospace pedigree

Collier Research’s professional version of its software was the first to be commercialized out of NASA, and has most recently been used to help design the heat shield of the space program’s multipurpose crew vehicle, and the Bell Helicopter/Spirit AeroSystems entry in a Department of Defense program competition.

Express and Pro products are both being used at large OEMs. Some parts are completely designed, analyzed, and certified with Express and others parts may first be done in Express, then handed off to Pro to do stiffened panels or bolted/bonded joints. The transition from Express to Pro is seamless because the two programs share the same database.

“Should you want to go to the Pro level later, all the data you’ve entered and computed with Express will be intact so you can see everything you’ve done so far,” says Collier.

How Express works

The Express interface guides the user through the entire analysis process in a highly intuitive manner, step-by-step. Checkboxes on the status console confirm current progress—from model import through material selection, FEA solver choice, selection of failure and design criteria, laminate optimization and sequencing, and analysis results (controlling load case, failure mode, safety factors, and update of FEM with optimal laminates).

While Express is primarily aimed at the composite engineer, it does provide capabilities for metals optimization as well.  “You can use Express to determine whether composite is really the material system you want to use for your product,” says Collier. “You can quickly identify the performance with a different metal, such as aluminum or steel.”

“Optimization has become an essential tenet of engineering,” Collier says. “But there are still so many people out there who are not doing any optimization at all,” he says. “Our aim is to support them with a user-friendly, practical tool that works for every engineer.”

Collier Research Corp
www.hypersizer.com