Simulation technology for glass fiber reinforced parts receives accolade

Ticona, (Sulzbach, Germany) reports its paper on integrative simulation technology for glass fiber reinforced parts will receive a Best Paper Award in September during opening ceremonies of the 13^th annual SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE).

On the morning of September 11, David Sheridan, lead author and a senior design engineer at Ticona Engineering Polymers, will receive a commemorative plaque for excellence in technical writing in Novi, MI, for the paper entitled Integrated Anisotropic Simulation for Components Made from Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics. He will present the paper from 11:30 to noon on Sept. 12, following a tutorial earlier that day on Design & Development of Precision Plastic Gear Transmissions.

The paper, co-authored by Ulrich Mohr-Matuschek and Anton Grzeschik, both of Ticona, and Roland Peter of Inteva Roof Systems (Troy, MI), discusses how accurately analyzing and predicting the mechanical behavior of components made from fiber-reinforced thermoplastics is complex owing to the fact that fibers are individually oriented during injection molding. Finite-element analysis often uses isotropic material models, but accuracy of results can be improved if local fiber orientations are considered with anisotropic material properties. The paper introduces the analysis process and a practical application.

Ticona also received a 2012 Best Paper Award for Using Unidirectional Glass Tapes to Improve Impact Performance of Thermoplastic Composites in Automotive Applications by Duane Emerson, a senior development engineer - Automotive O.E.M.  Marketing Group. The paper described a study that looked at methods to increase stiffness/strength and impact resistance of an automotive underbody shield (UBS) by using continuous strand, unidirectional (UD) glass-reinforced thermoplastic composite tapes to produce woven fabrics as well as tailored blank laminates.

During this year's show at the Diamond Banquet & Conference Center at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Ticona will exhibit a cross section of a thermoplastic composite helicopter tailplane that won a 2013 JEC Innovation Award, as well as display thermoplastic solutions for composites used in light and tough components:

The paper for the Virtual Prototyping & Testing of Composites session was chosen by conference peer reviewers out of a field over 90 contenders. It is one of three to be recognized with a Best Paper Award during the ACCE opening ceremonies.

Held annually in suburban Detroit, the ACCE draws more than 700 speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees and provides an environment dedicated solely to discussion and networking about advances in the transportation composites. Its global appeal is evident in the diversity of exhibitors, speakers, and attendees who come to the conference from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific as well as North America. Fully one-third of attendees indicate they work for automotive and light truck, agriculture, truck and bus, heavy truck, or aviation original equipment manufacturers, and another 25 percent representing tier suppliers. Attendees also represent composite materials, processing equipment, additives, or reinforcement suppliers; trade associations, consultants, university and government labs; media; and investment bankers. The show has been jointly sponsored by the SPE Automotive and Composites Divisions since 2001.