The Hybrid Synthesizer

In response to feedback gathered at the Materials Education Symposia, the latest release allows the embodied energy and carbon dioxide to be calculated for many of the models. In addition, five new Hybrid Synthesizer models have been released in CES EduPack 2013 (Multi-layer materials (2,3,4,5,6,7-layer); Short fiber composites (aligned & random fiber); Closed-cell foam Honeycombs (expanded & extruded); Dual material lattice (controlled thermal expansion) ) and a 'Model Writer's Guide' helps you develop your own models for research and teaching.

The study of composites and hybrid materials is becoming increasingly important in engineering and design courses. This innovative tool helps predict the performance of sandwich panels, cellular structures, composites, and other hybrid materials.

Integration with CES EduPack makes comparison of Hybrid Synthesizer predictions with ‘standard’ materials simple, straightforward, and rational. The tool allows teachers and students to explore the benefits of using different hybrid materials and structures, for example to aid lightweight design.

The Hybrid Synthesizer allows students to predict the performance of hybrid materials and structures based on the performance of constituent materials selected from any of the thousands of covered by the CES EduPack Materials and Process Database, or your own materials. A simple 'Wizard' user interface makes the entry of parameters required by the Hybrid Synthesizer straightforward.

After the calculation, data for the predicted materials are stored on datasheets, accessed via the standard data browsing tools within CES EduPack. Data for these materials can be plotted together with the rest of the database, encouraging students to make quick and easy comparison of the hybrid structures with other materials (as in the graph above). Records created by the Hybrid Synthesizer can also be specified in subsequent models, enabling their performance in other hybrid structures to be evaluated.

What materials can the tool model?

The Hybrid Synthesizer includes models to enhance teaching on:

• Sandwich panels
• Foams and Octet lattices
• Unidirectional, quasi isotropic and particulate composites (using a 'simple bounds' model)
• Multi-layer materials (2,3,4,5,6,7-layer)
  note, this is not for modelling multilayer continuous fiber composites with different fiber orientations
• Short fiber composites (aligned & random fiber)
• Closed-cell foam Honeycombs (expanded & extruded)
• Dual material lattice (controlled thermal expansion)

In addition, a 'Model Writer's Guide' is available, providing guidance on developing your own models for research or teaching.

Additional resources

White paper: You can download "The Hybrid Synthesizer" white paper as part of the CES EduPack information pack »

Acknowledgement: Initial development work on the Hybrid Synthesizer was supported with funding and partner input from the European Union Project MANUDIRECT. More »