Design Composites in the Cloud

CompoSIDE Ltd., a developer of engineering simulation and data management solutions based in the U.K., has released v2.8.2 of its web-based CompoSIDE composite design and analysis software. A subscription-based service, CompoSIDE v2.8.2, says the company, significantly improves the development cycles for composites parts and products.

CompoSIDE Ltd. has released version 2.8.2 of its CompoSIDE integrated suite of web-based design, analysis and data management tools for composites design as well as applications using metal and other materials such as wood and plastics. Image courtesy of CompoSIDE Ltd.

Core CompoSIDE functionality modules provide toolsets for composites materials management, laminate calculation, beam section design and 3D FEA (finite element analysis) modeling with integrated reporting and BOM (bill of materials) generation. A management module, PROJECTSpace integrates the interlinked 2D/3D design and engineering tools, the materials database and other modules. Add-ons include YACHTScant, which integrates functionality specifically for vessel creation, and an FE (finite element) export module.

CompoSIDE’s Materials Database (CMDB) acts as a central repository for all materials and provides tools for managing materials data, physical and mechanical properties, ply generation and micro-mechanics. It supports material types such as adhesives, cores, fibers, matrix and plies as well as non-composite materials such as metals, woods, plywood and plastics. A CompoSIDE subscription comes with a basic set of materials that you can expand with your own project specific data.

CompoSIDE provides centralized, cloud-based data management, enabling users to store composites project data such as design, materials, standards, BOMs (bill of materials), drawings and reports in a single secured location. Image courtesy of CompoSIDE Ltd.

The CompoSIDE CMDB features company-wide and project-specific libraries to help evaluate and develop new materials and plies. At the project level, users can develop new materials data, estimate new performances and fine-tune existing data. CompoSIDE v2.8.2 introduces the “Materials Data Manager” role with dedicated rights within the organization to approve and publish new materials across the company-wide library of materials.

CompoSIDE’s BOM generation tool automatically produces bill of materials including weight and cost estimates, says the company. Users can also generate BOMs manually and make modifications and additions. CompoSIDE links design modules and BOMs dynamically, enabling users to update and review the effects of design decisions on BOMs and costs.

CompoSIDE provides users an integrated reporting engine that include such features as revision/version control, customizable templates and URL sharing. Image courtesy of CompoSIDE Ltd.

The integrated reporting engine provides such features as reporting wizards, customizable templates, URL sharing, quality features like issue and revision/version control as well as the ability to generate project documentation automatically. Automated project documentation output includes design data, deliverables required for manufacturing, materials data sheets, BOMs and project reports. An advanced editing tool lets users edit or add commentary and insert additional content before distributing project deliverables.

CompoSIDE v2.8.2 also introduces a Desktop Client for 2D/3D modeling and FEA that, says the company, provides improved performance and response time for large and complex models. The Desktop Client combines local computational resources for model editing with the performance of HPC (high-performance computing) for running solvers and analysis tasks. Analysis jobs are submitted to the CompoSIDE HPC infrastructure automatically, which relieves the local workstation of the compute-intensive tasks.

Since CompoSIDE integrates data in a centralized, web-accessible location, design, engineering and manufacturing teams can draw on the same source of data and collaborate as well as work on a project simultaneously. Image courtesy of CompoSIDE Ltd.

Miscellaneous features include a graphical user interface, a user-defined Wiki module and systems tools for configuring project settings, including safety factors, failure settings, user roles, user permissions, managing subscriptions and monitoring resources.

“CompoSIDE v2.8.2 significantly enhances product development cycles for composites products and parts” said Lorenzo Bossi, sales and marketing manager at CompoSIDE Ltd., in the v2.8.2 release announcement. “The latest release improves materials data management and delivers efficient design workflows for both pure players and new entrants to composites applications.”

Subscriptions start at $6,250. In addition to the FE export and YACHTScant add-on modules, the company also offers a CMDB materials database add on module containing more than 1,200 materials and over 900 plies. All materials provide full physical and mechanical properties data.

For complete details on CompoSIDE 2.8.2, visit the CompoSIDE website.

Watch a video on the features of CompoSIDE.

Learn more about the CompoSIDE Materials Database.

Learn more about CompoSIDE’s laminate design and management module.

Sign up for a 30-day trial of CompoSIDE.

See why DE‘s editors selected CompoSIDE v2.8.2 as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.