Chevy Volt battery pack: Rugged but precise
GM and partners engineer composites for this complex assembly with an accent on repeatability.

Press-molding method emulates autoclave
Rubber tool insert avoids consolidation pressure “dead zones” and slashes cost.

ORACLE TEAM's new boat uses Dassault software for composites
The AC72, ORACLE TEAM's racing catamaran scheduled to compete in the 34th America's Cup in September 2013, is composites intensive and was designed and tested virtually using Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Carbon is the choice for amphibious LSA floats
Superlight, landing-gear-equipped design gives light sport aircraft builders an option for land and water.

Virtual testing of composites: Beyond make & break
Software-based micromechanical modeling and analysis methods promise faster and more cost-effective aircraft development and testing programs.

Off-grid turbine: Helix in the wind
This new composite twist on the vertical-axis wind turbine makes no small impact on the private power market.

Tooling block makes affordable patterns for new superlight aircraft
Tooling for a new canard-winged pusher airplane, the e-Go (e-Go Airplanes of Cambridge, U.K.), was created from patterns made of EP678 epoxy tooling block, supplied by the Advanced Engineering Materials Product Group of Trelleborg Offshore UK (Skelmersdale, Lancashire, U.K.)

Integrated, optimized aircraft door
This composites manufacturer is betting its one-piece 3-D preform and RTM process will trim weight from today’s fastener-intensive “black aluminum” aircraft doors.

Dassault, U.K. composites center create collaborative partnership
Dassault's Version 6 3D Experience platform will be used by the U.K.'s National Composites Centre (NCC) to create a collaborative environment in which the NCC and its partners will work on advanced composite products.

Plasan Carbon Composites concentrates CAD/CAM capabilities
Automotive composites manufacturer Plasan Carbon Composites has switched from its three-CAD system to Dassault's integrated design, FEA and simulation suite to optimize product development cycles.

Forged composites replace complex metal parts
Powerhouse manufacturer’s high-pressure compression molding process forms prepregged CFRP components with forged-metal properties.

Redesigning for simplicity and economy
Military OEM makes the switch from sandwich construction to compression molding to optimize composite aerospace part.

Biz Briefs
Business briefs from Cirrus Aircraft, 3A Composites, Magnolia Plastics, Dassault Systèmes and FORMAX.

Primary structure repair: The quest for quality
Composite airframes on commercial craft drive development of automated repair technology and industry-wide repair technician certification.

Self-deployable, composite satellite boom
Researchers design and validate a boom made of ultrathin carbon-fiber/epoxy laminate, using a novel, highly accurate analysis method.

PLM software streamlines robotic cell development
FASTCURVE and FASTTIP, part of FASTSUITE from CENIT (Stuttgart, Germany), have been used successfully by Hyde Group Holdings Ltd. (Cheshire, U.K.) to optimize composite wing manufacturing.

Dassault Systèmes acquires Simulayt
Simulayt's composites simulation and advanced draping simulation technology will be integrated into Dassault's CATIA Version 6 and Version 5 to add manufacturability simulation technologies.

Tooling for composites: Evolutionary trajectory
New technologies and improved methods keep up as tools get bigger and more complex and toolmaking gets ever more challenging.

FEA product suite updated
Dassault Systèmes has announced new nonlinear structural optimization, coupled multiphysics, and high-performance computing technology available in Abaqus 6.11, the company's unified FEA product suite from SIMULIA.

CompositesWorld Technical Literature
CompositesWorld's new Technical Literature section features documents from Dassault Systèmes and other composites industry companies.

Reinforced thermoplastics in aircraft primary structure
Carbon/PEKK floor beams prove production worthiness of lower cost, fast coconsolidation process.

Webinar: Aerospace composites lessons applied to automotive
CompositesWorld Webinars and Dassault Systèmes have announced a new webinar, titled "Flying Off The line: How Aerospace Knowledge Can Accelerate the Use of Composites in Mass Produced Autos," scheduled for Thursday, April 28, 1:00 PM EDT.

Finite element analysis software update
Dassault Systèmes has released Abaqus 6.10-EF, under its SIMULIA brand banner, for finite element analysis (FEA) and multiphysics applications.

Dassault, NIAR form aerospace composites partnership
The expanded partnership between Dassault Systèmes and the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) aims to help manufacturers optimize composites use in aerospace structures.

Learjet 85 composite pressurized cabin a cost cutter
Single-piece carbon fiber composite structure selected over multipiece aluminum fuselage barrel section in new bizjet design.

Finite element analysis suite updated
Dassault Systèmes (DS, Paris, France; Providence, R.I.) has announced the availability of Abaqus 6.10, the finite element analysis (FEA) and multiphysics product suite for simulation from SIMULIA.

SPE's ACCE 2010 preview
Charting a composites course through the auto industry’s “perfect storm.”

Hotel wrap: Curvilinear pultrusions
Airport hotel’s striking wraparound roofline made possible, durable and affordable with pultruded flat panels and profiled support structures.

R&DE picks Abaqus FEA software for composites work
India-based R&DE has selected Abaqus finite element analysis software for development of bridges, vehicles and prosthetic medical devices.

Solar-powered composite plane makes maiden flight
Solar Impulse, the brainchild of adventurer Bertrand Piccard and CEO/project cofounder Andre Borschberg, took flight on April 7 at the Payerne airfield in Switzerland, after seven years of research and development.

Integrated software: Streamlined hull & tool design
Although its reputation was solid, rigid inflatable boat (RIB) builder Planatech (Athens, Greece) recently sought ways to design new composite products and their corresponding tool sets faster, without compromising quality.

Very Light Jets Creating A Demand For Composites
"Baby" jets are causing an aviation buzz but will the market exist?

Terrafugia picks CATIA for composites work on roadable plane
CATIA will be used to conduct 3-D composite and finite-element modeling for the second iteration of the Transition Roadable Aircraft.

Finite element analysis program upgraded
Dassault Systèmes has released Abaqus 6.9 Extended Functionality (6.9-EF), its unified finite element analysis (FEA) product suite from SIMULIA.

CompositesWorld Expo 2009: Product Preview
 A pre-show peek at what’s in store for CWE conference attendees and show visitors.

FEA software package
Dassault Systèmes has announced the availability of Abaqus 6.9, its unified finite element analysis (FEA) product suite from SIMULIA.

CompositesWorld Expo conference offers wind energy composites expertise
The Technical Conference at the show, Sept. 28-30, features "Fly Like the Wind: What Wind Energy Companies can Learn from Aerospace Composites Best Practices."

Modular composites: A perfect fit in new medevac helicopter
Bell Helicopter's new manufacturing parardigm replaces sheet metal with composites in a modular "snap fit" design.

Webcast: Design and manufacture of wind blades
A new four-chapter, 45-minute webcast presented by Dassault Systèmes, featuring ESI Group, and sponsored by CompositesWorld, explores the global demand for wind blades and best practices for blade design and manufacture.

CompositesWorld Expo 2009 Product Preview
Key CWE exhibitors give CT readers a preshow peek at what’s in store on the exhibit floor.

Dassault Inmotion Using Composites in Alternative Energy Industries
Presented by Jeff Sloan, Editor-in-Chief, High-Performance Composites, Composites Technology & CompositesWorld Weekly  

Dassault Inmotion Using Composites in Alternative Energy Industries
Presented by Jeff Sloan, Editor-in-Chief, High-Performance Composites, Composites Technology & CompositesWorld Weekly  

Dassault Inmotion - Wind Turbine Analysis Demonstration
ESI demonstrates conceptual grid design on wind turbine grid

Dassault Inmotion Resources for Achieving Better Blade Design
Learn about the numerous resources available for achieving better blade design

Dassault Inmotion Challenges of Wind Turbine Blade Design
At Dassault Systèmes our goal is to simulate any object in 3D and thus be recognized as a 3D company; we believe that 3D is a new medium, like sound and video; it’s an easy-to-understand international language

Dassault Inmotion - Resin Transfer Molding Solution
Featuring SIMULIA and CATIA

JEC COMPOSITES 2009 Product Showcase
Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.

Automating wind blade manufacture
 Recent technology announcements portend a new era of more efficient blade production.

JEC Composites 2009 showcase
 Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.

Windpower 2009 highlights
 The show confirmed wind energy’s status as a recession-proof market for composites, but blade manufacturers were put on notice about the need to automate.

Team-built bus body bests all
OEM meets tight development schedule on superlight multipart molded shell to offset propulsion system weight in fuel cell-powered transit bus.

Pultruding cost out of aerospace parts
 Design-for-manufacturing effort proves to be cost-effective for carbon/epoxy airfoil on expendable UAV.

Integrated CAM software
Delcam's CAM software will now be available fully integrated with SolidWorks.

Low-cost methods realize high-concept Superbus
Multifunctional mass-transport vehicle concept takes shape via resin-infused carbon/epoxy and vacuum-formed glass-reinforced thermoplastic sandwich construction.

Finite element analysis software update
Dassault Systèmes has released Abaqus 6.8 Extended Functionality (6.8-EF), FEA software suite from SIMULIA.

Software for crush simulation
Dassault Systèmes' CZone for Abaqus, from the DS SIMULIA brand, is designed to simulate crushing of composite materials.

Composites the right choice for subsea ocean observatory
Pultruded structure provides durable platform for Deep-ocean Environmental Long-term Observatory System (DELOS) project’s groundbreaking marine study.

COMPOSITESWORLD Expo 2008 Showcase
The inaugural COMPOSITESWORLD Expo Conference and Exhibition draws participants from all segmentsof the industry, including many new faces.

Finite element analysis software upgrade
Isight for Abaqus, a new product from SIMULIA, the Dassault Systèmes brand for simulation, leverages technology from recently acquired Engineous Software.

Software plug-in for CAM automation


COMPOSITESWORLD EXPO Showcase
The inaugural COMPOSITESWORLD Expo Conference and Exhibition draws participants from all segments of the industry, including many new faces.

COMPOSITESWORLD Expo Preshow Preview
CWExpo organizers pull aside the curtain for a sneak preview of the Expo's two keynote speakers and some new products that exhibitors will have on display in Schaumburg.

Finite element analysis software suite updated
Dassault Systèmes (Paris, France, Providence, R.I.) has announced the release of Abaqus 6.8, its unified finite element analysis (FEA) software suite from SIMULIA. Among the notable enhancements mentioned by Dassualt are fully built-in and improved composites analysis capabilities that enable aerospace engineers to

Formula 1 team accelerates design-to-track speed
Race car builder automates manual chassis design phase with unique FEA-to-CAD utility.

DeepFlex Composite Deepwater FFRP Pipe Begins Commercialization
DeepFlex Inc. (Houston, Texas), a manufacturer of glass fiber-reinforced pipe for use in subsea and deepwater oil exploration applications, has announced that its pipe is being used in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and Far East Asia. The pipe is an all-composite flexible fiber-reinforced pipe (FFRP), a lightweight,

Engineering Insights: Glass/Thermoplastic Hood Steps Toward Commercialization
The hood design for Hyundai’s QarmaQ concept car is evaluated against European and Japanese pedestrian safety requirements.

Quickstep Holdings enters the composite aircraft parts market
Quickstep Holdings Ltd. (North Coogee, Western Australia) announced on Jan. 16 the commencement of aircraft parts manufacturing at its Australian headquarters, located in Fremantle, Western Australia — marking the first stage in establishing the site as an aerospace parts supplier. Quickstep said that while specific

Engineering Insights: Composites Lessen Load in Fuel-Cell Demonstrator
CFRP decklid helps offset fuel-cell system weight to meet vehicle weight target.

FEA software update
Dassault Systèmes (Paris, France and Providence, R.I.) has announced that its SIMULIA brand has released Abaqus for CATIA V5 Version 2.5 software, enabling users to perform advanced finite element analysis (FEA) in the CATIA V5 environment. Available for the latest 64-bit computing architecture as well as 32-bit

Managing multi-axis manufacturing
Much early computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery served short-run military and space programs where cost per part was too high to be acceptable in the manufacture of commercial aircraft. Now, Automated CNC machinery moves toward volume production and part-specific design.

Third-party FEA interface
Dassault Systémes (Paris, France and Providence, R.I.) has introduced a new SIMULIA direct coupling interface that allows third-party physics codes developed by partners or customers to communicate directly with the company’s Abaqus finite element analysis (FEA) software for high-performance multiphysics simulation.

CAD-integrated FEA - 8/1/2007
ESI Group (Chicago, Ill.) has released PAM-QUIKFORM for CATIA V5, a fiber simulation and analysis program designed for integration with the popular CAD program CATIA V5 Composites Design, developed by Dassault Systèmes (Paris, France). The simulation tool predicts deformation of reinforcements in composite parts

FEA Roundup: Design, Simulation And Analysis Converge
New modeling and analysis software products increase the accessibility and reliability of finite element analysis data.

The ABCs of FEA
Computerized and adapted for composites, finite element analysis reduces R&D expense and shortens time to market.

Thermoplastic Composites Gain Leading Edge On The A380
Breakthrough manufacturing process produces lightweight, affordable glass-reinforced PPS J-nose on the worlds largest commercial aircraft wing.

Very Light Jets Creating A Demand For Composites
"Baby" jets are causing an aviation buzz but will the market exist?

Why Microstructure Matters
Microtesting composite materials speeds seleMicrotesting composite materials speeds selection, allowing designers to consider more possibilities.ction, allowing designers to consider more possibilities.

SAMPE 2005 Product Showcase
SAMPE's U.S. Symposium and Exhibition highlights technological innovation and market expansion.

Nacelle manufacturers optimize hand layup and consider closed molding methods
Focused on optimizing traditional hand layup, nacelle and thrust reverser manufacturers cast an eye on future use of automation and closed molding.

Composite rib structure for Airbus A380 vertical tail
Fabricator exceeds Airbus performance requirements with hand layed rib truss structure for A380.

Fiber Placement The Centerpiece Of NCAM
Cryogenic composites just one facet of Lockheed Martins National Center for Advanced Manufacturing.