Liquid composite molding simulation software

Citation

(2002), "Liquid composite molding simulation software", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774fab.010

Liquid composite molding simulation software

Liquid composite molding simulation software

Keywords: Prototyping, Manufacturing, Simulation, Software

ESI Group, a provider of virtual prototyping and manufacturing solutions, reports the availability of PAM-RTM 2002, advanced simulation software for liquid composite molding (LCM), and PAM-FORM 2002, a forming simulation solution for composites and plastics. Formerly known as LCMFLOT, PAM-RTM 2002 simulates various LCM processes, including resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum assisted RTM, and resin film Infusion. PAM-RTM 2002 is described as providing fast solutions for preliminary design, as well as refined calculations for process and mold optimization and final design verification. PAM-FORM 2002 is said to enable virtual and realistic analysis and optimization of a variety of manufacturing processes, including thermoforming, dry-fabric stamping, draping, diaphragm-forming, blowing, extrusion-blowing and stretching-blowing. PAM-RTM 2002 and PAM-FORM 2002 are part of ESI Group's composite solution, which already includes SYSPLY for composite analysis, and specific modules of PAM-CRASH for composite crash simulations. PAM-RTM 2002 claims a seamless interface with PAM-FORM 2002 that beverages the composite value chain. Users can now automatically import the results of the preforming simulation, mainly fiber reorientation, for an enhanced simulation of the injection process into PAM-RTM. The permeability field is automatically computed into the RTM process simulation, highly increasing the accuracy of the complete value-chain manufacturing process.

Enhancements claimed of PAM-RTM 2002 solver include optimization of thermal analysis and availability of new viscosity and kinetics models. New graphic user interface offers user-friendly multi-windows based on Microsoft Windows architecture, easier selection with new dialog box to define nodes and finite element, bitmap output, and improved animation parameters.

PAM-FORM 2002 is said to have the following new features, adaptive meshing for thermoforming applications, thermoplasticity for trims forming, squeeze flow modeling for laminate forming and enhanced robustness for draping analysis.

Full PAM-RTM 2002 is available on Windows NT, 2000, XP. PAM-RTM 2002 solver is also available on UNIX platforms from HP (both PA8000 and Itanium architectures), IBM, SGI, and SUN.

PAM-FORM 2002 is available on Windows NT, 2000, XP and UNIX platforms from Compaq, HP, IBM, SGI, and SUN.

Details available from: ESI Group, Tel: +33 (0) 1 53 65 14 14; Fax: +33 (0) 1 53 65 14 12.