Performance Polymers
Ultrasim® Material Modeling and Data
The core of Ultrasim® is a database of profound material models and simulation data for an extensive range of BASF's product portfolio, including Ultradur®, Ultramid®, Ultraform®, Ultrason®, Elastollan®, Elastolit® and more. These data are utilized for both process and structural simulations, enabling accurate predictions of material behavior.
Ultrasim® also provides specialized material models for specific applications, such as fatigue, creep, cyclic loading, thermo- and moisture mechanics, ensuring comprehensive analysis for various scenarios.
When we perform material modeling, we always follow an integrative simulation approach. This integrative approach acknowledges the notation that the performance of a polymeric material in the final part depends on the material processing during part production. This is crucial for an accurate simulation of short fiber reinforced plastics (SFRPs) and foams in structural load cases.
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Material Characterization
The basis for an accurate material model is a proper experimental characterization. To this end, we utilize optical strain measurements in mechanical testing to obtain detailed information about the deformation state (deformation gradient) and to subsequently calculate stress measures appropriate for the specific material models.
Furthermore, the mechanical response of polymeric materials is typically dependent on strain rate, temperature, moisture content (environmental climate) and, especially in short fiber reinforced plastics (SFRPs), on the direction of testing (anisotropy). A detailed material model requires experimental input for a combination of all these testing parameters which makes the characterization of polymeric materials particularly extensive. At BASF we spare no effort to perform all these required tests for feeding our models and providing our customers with outstanding data quality.
The main test that we utilize is the uniaxial tension test. One specialty of our setup is that it can measure up to very high strain rates of about 100 1/s which is key for calibrating material models for crash simulations. Depending on the material type we perform characterization according to specialized testing protocols which may also include compression tests (e.g. foams) and material testing under multi-axial loading conditions (e.g. elastomeric materials).
Dynamic Tensile Test
Ultrasim® Specialized Material Models
Ultrasim® provides specialized material models for specific applications and ensures a comprehensive analysis for various scenarios.