Econ developed an algorithm for evaluating the ply-based cyclic stiffness degradation of continuous fiber-reinforced plastics to better design fatigue-resistant structures. We are proud not only of our development accomplishments but also that the international composite-focused magazine CompositesWorld found our topic an exciting novelty and published an article by our senior simulation engineer and composites guru, László Kovács!
The Econ article in CompositesWorld is titled „Numerical tool with mean stress correction demonstrated for fatigue life estimation of thermoplastic composites”. It discusses how no standard methodologies or commercial calculation tools exist to design thermoplastic composite materials to avoid fatigue failure. Although there is a high and ever-increasing need to replace well-characterized thermoset matrix composites with thermoplastic composites, and even if companies are producing thermoplastic composite structures, the need for high-fidelity methods of predicting the fatigue life of these materials has yet to be satisfied.
Econ Engineering answered this interest in a technique and an associated automated simulation tool for supporting the designing of fatigue-tolerant thermoplastic structures. As a result of previous R&D activities, we developed an algorithm to predict the cyclic response of continuous fiber-reinforced polymer composites by integrating FE assessment into a stiffness degradation and cyclic failure assessment algorithm based on theories taken from literature.
The CompositesWorld article is authored by László Kovács, senior simulation engineer, R&D project manager, and composites guru at Econ. It provides a general overview of this topic, showcasing the strengths and features of the proposed methodology along with the means of validation and an application example.
About CompositesWorld
CompositesWorld Magazine is a source of reliable news and information on what’s happening in fiber-reinforced composite manufacturing. Through its monthly magazine, e-newsletters, digital content, market research, and events, CompositesWorld connects manufacturing leaders to reliable, accessible information about processes and trends across the global composites manufacturing industry. Its coverage digs into what’s new and trending in composites design, tooling, materials and fabrication, and they share the stories of how these materials and processes come together in real-world applications for end markets like aerospace, automotive, marine, and wind energy.
