Carbon fibre Simulation in Solidworks 09

[Juggz]

Hey how is everyone at the start of the new year?


Im doing my thesis this year on the chassis. Currently we use a steel tube chassis although we are intersted in either carbon fibre skins (increased strength, removal of bodywork)

I was hoping to do FEA of the standard frame then with the carbon fibre skins

Also testing both these physically by bending the chassis.

Are there any possible ways to model the carbon fibre acurately in solidworks or are there other programs that will be better at doing this, that i can import a SW model into

THanks
Mitch

[Juggz]

Hey how is everyone at the start of the new year?


Im doing my thesis this year on the chassis. Currently we use a steel tube chassis although we are intersted in either carbon fibre skins (increased strength, removal of bodywork)

I was hoping to do FEA of the standard frame then with the carbon fibre skins

Also testing both these physically by bending the chassis.

Are there any possible ways to model the carbon fibre acurately in solidworks or are there other programs that will be better at doing this, that i can import a SW model into

THanks
Mitch

[DART-CG]

I am not familiar with Solidworks but do you plan to have a special layup of the carbon (which is then attached to the steel frame, right?) or do you just mount it onto the frame. If you do so, just make an isotropic simulation as if you use aluminium sheets in the worst case (cfrp nearly has the same modulus when you don't consider the layup). Simulating cfrp-designs accurately with its anisotropic behaviour and the interaction of different layers hasn't been solved by science yet http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Mike Macie]

Since you are using solidworks already. Check out NEIWorks. It's an add in for solidworks that will allow you to analyze composites.

http://www.nenastran.com/newnoran/neiWorks

[Brian Barnhill]

2009 CosmosWorks has actually added the ability to analyze composite, simlar to NEIWorks. We use NEIWorks in my office, so I haven't really played with the Cosmos abilities yet, but it will allow you to specify layup and direction, cores, etc.