Material modelling

Materials by design

Material engineering is largely an empirical process, requiring accurate information, experimentation and optimisation.  Hexagon’s class-leading material modelling capabilities digitalise the development process and provide an end-to-end solution for accelerating materials innovations.   

Hexagon’s digital transformation solutions support the development of material digital twins, or ‘material cards’, leading to a reduction in the time, cost and risk associated with development. Additionally, these material cards can be integrated into both internal and customer multiphysics workflows, ensuring that simulations take into account the nuances of complex material systems.

Smart manufacturing of sustainable products

Design and manufacturing innovation aids sustainable product development and supports a circular economy. Simulating and optimising variables is also key to maximising product performance. That said, even a perfect material model is limited if manufacturing creates defects like voids, wrinkles or residual stresses.  

Hexagon’s materials solutions can reveal the effects of manufacturing processes and defects, enhancing accuracy in part performance predictions and allowing engineers to optimise process variables, material selection and/or part design.  

For additive, process simulations optimise the printing strategy, minimising warpage and enabling ‘first time right’ prints. For continuous fibre composites (CFRPs), simulating fibre and curing defects enables optimal material usage and accurate part performance predictions. For injection moulded parts like short fibre composites (SFRPs), simulation as a means to optimise gate location positively affects efficiencies and part performance.

The age of digitalisation

To be more competitive and successful in the digital era, a seamless digital transformation journey is critical. Hexagon’s materials autonomy solutions are a vector of innovation supporting efficiency within both design and manufacturing at scale.  Leveraging technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), Hexagon’s materials solutions enable the realisation of efficiencies via the autonomous processing of vast amounts of material data, providing reliable access to critical information and bridging gaps where data may be lacking.   

Materials autonomy turns data into innovative power, integrating material modelling and data management synergistically to explore the link between design and manufacturing. Advanced, intelligent and scalable, these material digital twins help to accelerate the innovation of sustainable products, as well as set new standards of excellence.