Advanced Crush Simulation Expertise for Energy-Absorbing Structures Made From Laminated Composites

CZone for Abaqus is a new add-on capability to Abaqus/Explicit that provides access to a robust methodology for crush simulation. It is based on the CZone technology from Engenuity Ltd., and facilitates the design of composite components and assemblies in the Automotive and Aerospace industries. CZone for Abaqus offers inclusion of material crush behavior in FEA simulations of composite structures subjected to impact.

CZone technology provides direct implementation of crush-based element force and failure in defined crush zones. The crush zones are typically located at the forward edges of the structure in direct contact with the impactor. CZone for Abaqus simulations determine:

The extent of material crushing and other modes of composite failure
The energy absorbed in the crush zone
The forces generated by material crushing.

The behavior of the composite structure outside the crush zone is simulated using existing Abaqus capabilities to account for possible delamination, damage, fracture, and buckling.

With CZone for Abaqus results as a guide can allow the alteration of a proposed design to optimize the placement, thickness, construction, and geometry of crush structures. It can also help in maximizing their energy-absorbing capacity.

Supported Platforms

CZone for Abaqus is supported on all systems for which Abaqus/Explicit is supported and works with Abaqus 6.8-2 and up.