Doctoral student Bo Peng (at left), uses the program SwiftComp to reduce design cycles for composite material simulations. Watching is associate professor Wenbin Yu (center) and doctoral student Ernesto Camarena. Purdue Research Foundation photo.
SwiftComp is compatible to plug-ins of conventional FEA codes. However, it can also be used for multiscale modeling of composites on its own.
SwiftComp uses a Vibrational Asymptotical Method for Unit Cell Homogenization (VAMUCH) algorithm to determine the composite properties. VAMUCH is a finite-element-based micromechanics calculation that can homogenize the properties of heterogeneous materials.
With one calculation, VAMUCH can determine the thermal, elastic, electric and magnetic properties of a material based on a unit cell or representative volume element. In this case, the software is similar to Alpha STAR Corporation’s Genoa.
This CAE software was developed by associate professor Wenbin Yu’s research team and will be available through the software provider AnalySwift. For more detail on how VAMUCH differs from FEA and other property prediction methods, read these papers by Wenbin Yu:
- Differences Between VAMUCH and FEA-based Micromechanics Approaches
- A Critical Evaluation of the Predictive Capabilities of Various Advanced Micromechanics Models
In general, "as long as a building block for the structure can be identified, SwiftComp can compute the best structural model for use in macroscopic structural analysis,” explained Allan Wood, president at AnalySwift. “It also computes the local stresses in the microstructure, which is essential for strength and failure of composites."
The software can also be used for various types of composite materials. Wood said, "The software can quickly and easily calculate the effective properties of composites and heterogeneous structures and materials including composite laminates, woven composites, stiffened structures, sandwich structures, corrugated structures and other build-up structures and heterogeneous materials."
Additionally, Wood has explained that SwiftComp is well tested, having been used by hundreds of experts in academics, industry and laboratories. He said, "Wenbin Yu is well known and highly respected in our field and he brings real-world solutions in the areas of structural mechanics, micromechanics, multiphysics modeling and multiscale modeling.”
The software is currently licensed by AnalySwift, a commercial software provider. This agreement will increase the availability of SwiftComp to the energy, automotive and aerospace industries.
"These sectors face challenges, including getting products to market more quickly, designing earlier in the process and improving technical R&D capabilities," said Wood. "Imagine the competitive advantages engineers and companies could achieve when reducing analysis time from days to minutes. SwiftComp can make that happen."
Do you use composite materials in your simulations? What are your thoughts on SwiftComp and its VAMUCH method? Comment below.