Tutorial 3 - Linear Elastic Functionality

Tutorial 3 demonstrates the use of the linear elastic functionality in Helius PFA. Follow the instructions to create and analyze a simple composite plate with ANSYS Mechanical.

Topics in this section

Introduction
Create the Part
Defining the part geometry is generally the first step in the development of a finite element model.
Define an Element Type
Define the element formulation to be used for the analysis.
Create a User Material with Helius PFA.
Use the Helius PFA plug-in interface to choose from a variety of material and analysis options.
Define and Assign the Element Coordinate System
Create a local coordinate system for the coupon.
Mesh the Part
Create the mesh for the geometry.
Define a Composite Layup
Create a composite layup section after the part and material have been created.
Apply Boundary Conditions
Create a boundary condition to fix the bottom surface of the plate.
Define the Load
Create a second boundary condition to impose a vertical displacement along the top surface of the plate.
Specify Solution Controls
For linear failure analyses, it helps to adjust the default incrementation so the fiber and matrix failure indices can be tracked as the load increases.
Define Solution Output to the Results File
Request that state variables (SVAR) be written in the ANSYS results (.rst) file in order to view the fiber and matrix indices generated by Helius PFA.
Solve the Model
The model is now defined and ready to be solved.
View and Interpret the Results
Helius PFA generates several state variable outputs available for viewing.
Summary
We modeled a composite plate with a hole using Helius PFA to generate matrix and fiber failure indices for each integration point.

Parent topic: ANSYS Tutorials