Helius PFA is composed of a set of software modules and a composite material library that integrate seamlessly with the Abaqus/Standard finite element analysis system, providing you with excellent material modeling capability for unidirectional and woven fiber-reinforced composite materials. Helius PFA utilizes a form of multiscale material modeling that is based on Multicontinuum Theory (MCT). The MCT modeling methodology provides an unsurpassed combination of accuracy, efficiency, and convergence robustness in predicting damage evolution and material failure in composite materials.
In sharp contrast to traditional continuum mechanics, where physical quantities of interest (e.g., stress and strain) are averaged over the entire heterogeneous microstructure of the composite material, MCT retains the identities of the distinct material constituents within the microstructure. Consequently, physical quantities of interest (e.g., stress and strain) are averaged over each individual constituent material. These constituent average quantities provide much deeper insight into the thermo-mechanical behavior of the composite material than the traditional composite average quantities. To briefly summarize, MCT focuses on two concepts: 1) the development of relationships between the various constituent average quantities of interest, and 2) the development of relationships that link the composite average quantities to the constituent average quantities. For a complete discussion of MCT and the advantages that it provides in the analysis of composite materials, refer to the Theory Manual.
Additionally, Helius PFA can provide delamination predictions using Abaqus cohesive elements (COH2D4 and COH3D8) defined with a cohesive user material. The delamination model uses some of the same material models provided by Abaqus/Standard, however, Helius PFA provides robust convergence and allows analyses to use both ply level and cohesive level progressive failure models without a significant increase in analysis time.