Software
For many years the finite element analysis community has attempted to develop reliable composite crash simulations. Engenuity carried out extensive reviews of the capabilities of programs such as LS-Dyna Mat54 and Mat58, PamCrash, Radioss and MSC.Dytran without finding a solution that can satisfy the dual needs of predicting failure in the back-up structure and also in the area where the material fragments and absorbs energy in the process at the crush front. The crashworthiness working group of Composite Materials Handbook CMH-17 have been undertaking a similar exercise in the round robin they are conducting and it is apparent that all the conventional codes require the use of non physical parameter variables. These tuning parameters are not measured properties and needed to be changed with small changes to specimen geometry based on sight of experimental results. And are therefore not predictive.
Engenuity took a different approach to the problem and developed their CZone Technology to be used in conjunction with conventional explicit finite element analysis codes. The technology is protected by a granted US Patent No. 7,630,871. The key aspect of the technology is the "Crush Stress Property" which is measured through simple coupons which are crushed and their resistance measured. This is entered directly as a material property to allow the software to be able to predict how even complex assemblies will behave in an impact event. CZone has been used to undertake a number of successful blind predictions, and is now utilised predictively in the design process in a number of industries.
The CZone Technology is commercially available as CZone for Abaqus, an add-in for Simulia’s Abaqus/Explicit finite element analysis software worldwide through the Simulia sales channel. CZone On-Demand Webinar and CZone Product Information.