The mechanical performance of short fiber-reinforced plastic (SFRP) components is highly sensitive to fiber orientation, which is significantly influenced by the injection gate location during the molding process. Traditionally, gate placement decisions are driven by warpage minimization strategies, often overlooking mechanical performance under diverse load cases. This research introduces an automated workflow within Digimat-MS that integrates injection gate optimization into the early design phase, leveraging Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) principles.
The proposed methodology enables engineers to upload either Marc, Abaqus or Ansys input decks, select a component of interest, assign material cards, and define gate scenarios. A Design of Experiments (DOE) is then executed locally or remotely, allowing Digimat to evaluate multiple gate configurations. The system aggregates results and identifies optimal gate locations based on the initiation of failure under quasi-static loading conditions, thereby reducing reliance on trial-and-error and expert intuition.
This approach not only streamlines the simulation process but also ensures that gate placement decisions are informed by comprehensive mechanical assessments across multiple load cases. The integration of Digimat’s ICME capabilities enhances simulation accuracy, leading to improved reliability and performance of SFRP components.