CORUS AND ESI GROUP PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES ADVANCED MATERIAL SIMULATION CAPABILITIES
09 March 2005 - ESI Group

Corus, the international metals producer, and ESI Group, leading provider of digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes, today announced the integration of the Corus-Vegter model, a new advanced material simulation model, into PAM-STAMP 2G software package. Combining Corus and ESI Group expertise, this partnership will help automotive designers and engineers to significantly improve the accuracy of formability analysis predictions and press stamping evaluations.

Using computer-aided tools to help reduce the cost and time necessary for new vehicle development and improve manufacturing processes is not new. Formability analysis tools are currently used to predict material behaviour to simulate what happens when sheet material is stamped into a three-dimensional part, such as a body panel. However, as carmakers increasingly use advanced high strength steels and aluminium alloys, existing material simulation tools, largely based on data from mild strength steels and featuring relatively simple models, are becoming more and more inadequate for the latest simulation requirements, especially panel quality and tolerance control.

Corus has developed the unique Corus-Vegter model, which incorporates Corus' advanced understanding of sheet metal behaviour during deformation in response to the need from the global automotive industry for a model that can accurately predict the behaviour of more modern and widely used materials. Over the last two years, Corus has worked closely with ESI Group to implement the Corus-Vegter model in PAM-STAMP 2G, the sheet metal forming simulation software package.

Easy to use, the Vegter model features the latest data, including high strength steels and aluminium. Validated on standard test pieces as well as an actual automotive component, the model allows engineers and designers to predict yield behaviour more accurately under complex stress states and improve the performance of stamping operations. Importantly, the Vegter model provides a powerful tool to help manufacturers speed up the proving process, therefore reducing costs of new product development. The ability to more accurately predict behaviour will also lead to improved part reliability on new vehicle models.

Commenting on the development of the Vegter model, Dr Frans de Rooij, Product Applications Manager, Corus Strip Products IJmuiden: "Corus is a company at the forefront of understanding material properties and their applications. The Vegter model is a good example of how we can use this extensive knowledge to provide the automotive industry not only with quality materials, but also the latest technology and tools that help carmakers improve manufacturing processes to build better, stronger and safer cars."

"New material grades present constant challenges to improve final part quality assessment and tolerance control. Through the cooperation with Corus, ESI Group has developed within PAM-STAMP 2G state-of-the-art material technology modelling to meet the demand for high-quality material models," said Dr Fouad El Khaldi, Product Operations Manager, ESI Group.

The Corus-Vegter model has been validated on a full-scale automotive part in collaboration with Renault. Dr Mostafa El Mouatassim, CAE and Stamping Feasibility Team Leader at Renault, said: "Nowadays, digital stamping simulation for new vehicle development is unavoidable, as it allows fast improvement loops for products and processes. This project shows how collaboration between car manufacturers, steel manufacturers and software suppliers can contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality of simulation results."

http://www.esi-group.com

More News:
  • For March 2005
  • From ESI Group
  • For Design Software