Material Model Calibration

All finite element analyses (FEA) need the same three inputs: geometry and mesh, loading and boundary conditions, and the material behavior and model. Geometry and boundary conditions are defined by the product and use cases and are generally straightforward, and the material model (or constitutive model) can be the most challenging part of the analysis.

Polymers exhibit time-, temperature-, and rate-dependent behavior that makes modeling these materials in FEA difficult. Accurately predicting product performance depends on both measuring the time-dependent behavior, as well as selecting an appropriate material model and calibrating the material parameters.  Veryst routinely calibrates material models that capture:

• Viscoelasticity
• Viscoplasticity (or rate-dependent plasticity)
• Plasticity, yield, and permanent set
• Anisotropy (both elastic and plastic)
• Temperature dependence
• Creep and stress relaxation
• Damage and material failure

The material model calibration process is shown below, including material model validation.

Material model calibration workflow, showing an example including material model validation.

Veryst has extensive experience with material testing and material model calibration.  Our experts routinely give free webinars, paid classes, and accredited classes through NAFEMS on polymer testing and modeling.  Additionally, Veryst developed the MCalibration^® tool (now a part of Synopsys) to select and calibrate material models for commercial FEA codes.  We routinely select and calibrate material models for Abaqus, Ansys, LS-DYNA, RADIOSS, and COMSOL Multiphysics^®.