Cloud-based CAE Platform Precisely Predicts Impact Behavior of Plastics

Asahi Kasei Engineering Corp. (AEC) has launched a cloud-based computer-aided engineering (CAE) platform, offering highly precise apps to predict crash and impact behavior of polymers. As the adoption of polymer materials in automobiles and other products increases, precise simulation of material behavior will contribute to enhanced product design and a significant reduction in cost and time for material and application development.

Cloud-based high-performance computing (HPC) is increasingly used throughout various industries. As a result, on-demand use of CAE software installed in cloud HPC as software-as-a-service is also becoming more common in the material development process.

As a manufacturer of engineering plastics, Asahi Kasei has provided comprehensive support for its customers’ product design and development through CAE technical services focused on engineering plastics. Leveraging this expertise, AEC, a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, further extends its CAE-related services by launching the cloud-based “CAE Solution Platform,” comprising various apps that can be easily downloaded and used by customers worldwide.

Accurate fracture prediction

The crazing phenomenon in polymers that results from impact and other forces leads to formation of fibrils and voids that compromise the material’s physical strength. Image courtesy of Business Wire/Asahi Kasei Engineering Corp.

The apps offered on the platform include the i-Lupe polymer material fracture prediction model. Amorphous polymers possess a microscopic structure in which molecular chains are intricately entangled. When impact or other force is applied to this material causing significant deformation, the molecular chains are stretched, resulting in the formation of voids and fibrils (bundles of molecular chains). When these so-called crazes grow, the polymer material fractures. By focusing on crazes, i-Lupe accurately predicts and reproduces possible fractures in the polymer.

Supporting mapping tool

Conceptual diagram of the mapping tool for i-Lupe. Image courtesy of Business Wire/Asahi Kasei Engineering Corp.

As a supporting app to i-Lupe, the CAE platform offers an on-demand mapping tool specifically focused on anisotropic materials such as fiber-reinforced resins. This tool converts fiber orientation data into i-Lupe material property lists, which are used as references for selecting the optimal material for specific applications, enabling an accurate visual representation of the deformation behavior of fiber-reinforced resins.

Registration is now available.