New technology helps designers reduce weight, and shorten development and certification cycles, company says.
April 20, 2022
By DE Editors
Collier Aerospace Corp. debuts its new analysis and design optimization software for composite structures used in aircraft, space and automotive vehicles, and many other high-end applications. This computer-aided engineering (CAE) solution offers designers and engineers new tools for balancing weight reduction with manufacturability, accelerating part development and helping to quickly achieve airframe certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), where applicable, the company reports.
“We totally redesigned our software,” says Craig Collier, co-founder, CEO and president, Collier Aerospace. “It runs faster and handles larger models with a new and powerful graphics engine and underlying relational database to hold terabytes of data. Along with streamline workflows and a redesigned modern interface, engineers can do more in less time.”
The new software, which is licensed on a subscription basis, will replace HyperSizer, the company’s previous product. Existing customers will be invited to migrate to the new software. Collier Aerospace will continue to support HyperSizer throughout a customer’s transition period to HyperX.
Real-World Design Optimization
Collier Aerospace highlights two major projects that illustrate the successful application of the new software. In the first case, the technology was used to size a carbon fiber composite racing sailboat that will attempt to break the world sailing speed record in 2023. The other initiative evaluated the feasibility of replacing fiberglass with flax plant-based natural fiber reinforcement in wind turbine blades to reduce the environmental impact of the application during the design phase. The software was used to size the blade and define materials and ply layups.
Redesigned Website
The new Collier Aerospace website contains in-depth technical content, with dozens of categories and subcategories organized according to the four benefits of reducing weight, shortening schedule, increasing producibility and achieving certification. This information is illustrated with graphics and demonstration videos. The site also features a slider bar that superimposes the software diagram of a vessel’s core sandwich panels and carbon fiber composite laminates on top of an actual photo of the vessel.
Webinar
To highlight the capabilities of the new software, Collier Aerospace will present a technical webinar on May 12 at 9 a.m. ET /3 p.m. CT. Charli Cahill, manager of Customer Development and an aerospace structural engineer, will speak on automating stress analysis and structural sizing with the new solution. The webinar will describe software features, including its model-centric interface, automated sizing functionality and ability to extract data for stress reporting. Those interested in attending the webinar can register here.
Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.