When an engineer is working with short fiber reinforced composites, computer simulation allows him to predict the mechanical properties of parts early in the design phase. The simulation must account for the following:
The composite microstructure and the mechanical properties of the individual constituents (polymer and fibers)
The manufacturing process
For an application to perform a comprehensive simulation, it must first model the effects of the manufacturing process and factor these results when calculating the properties of the mechanical model. This way, the simulated structure accounts for the residual thermal stresses as well as the locally varying fiber orientation distribution. As a result, the simulation can predict the stiffness and strength properties of the final part.
Once the engineer has evaluated the simulation results, he can go back and adjust the geometry or the manufacturing process to optimize performance and compensate for process-induced distortions.