Ideal for all types of composite analysis
By using the unrivalled state-of-the-art element libraries and material models of LUSAS Composite a host of composite engineering problems can be solved.

All models are created with built-in associativity allowing rapid design changes to be made.
Automatic meshing is available and for certain types of problem LUSAS Composite will automatically solve to a user-specified accuracy using adaptive procedures.
 

Extensive GUI results processing facilities allow extensive contouring, graphing and plotting of composite specific results.
 

By using the advanced scripting language facilities, user-defined menus and forms can be added allowing specific repetitive analysis tasks to be performed with a minimum of user involvement.
 

Complete analyses from modelling to results processing can be automated - and all tailored to your way of working.

Advanced analysis and design
Advances in composite technology require advanced software solutions. LUSAS Composite offers these solutions now to give you the edge over your competitors. LUSAS Composite gives you:

An advanced element set.
Use of all LUSAS material models.
Fast Iterative Solver Technology.
Access to advanced analysis options.
 

A software key system means that you can call us at any time for a key to unlock these powerful options so that you can tackle new analyses straightaway.

Easy lay-up definition
LUSAS Composite offers a quicker and simpler way than ever before to define composite lay-ups independent of the component to be analysed. The properties of each laminate are defined in a table and each layer given a unique name for use in results processing - extremely useful where ply drop off occurs. A lay-up icon provides a useful visual check before the lay-up is automatically assigned to the underlying geometry. These unique lay-up procedures dramatically reduce the chance of errors.
 

Advanced analysis technology
Because composite components have different failure characteristics to non-composite components and are often a complex combination of materials, they pose unique analysis problems. The use of traditional modelling techniques for composites can be prohibitively expensive due to the large number of elements required. Whilst some analysis systems allow laminate properties to be integrated together to form an homogeneous material matrix, such systems can only predict failure with a linear analysis. To model failure correctly, and to assess the residual strength, nonlinear analysis with LUSAS Composite is necessary in which the individual laminate behaviour is modelled.

Advanced composite elements
In addition to shell elements, the LUSAS 3D solid composite element reduces the model size by allowing a number of laminates to be modelled by a single element. Where complex 3D components are built from a number of composite blocks butted together LUSAS Composite can be used to automatically generate constraint equations to tie dissimilar meshes together. This powerful facility can also be used to provide rapid mesh grading of elements in high stress areas giving you faster solution times. In addition, linear and nonlinear modelling of adjacent laminates is possible, allowing you to analyse mixed material lay-ups.
 

Composite delamination
Both 2D and 3D composite delamination interface elements are used in LUSAS Composite. These elements enable composite delaminations to be modelled using an incremental nonlinear analysis. Interface elements are embedded into the finite element model and assigned delamination properties using a nonlinear material model. If the strength exceeds the strength threshold value in the opening or tearing directions the material properties of the interface element are reduced linearly as defined by the material parameters and complete failure is assumed to have occurred when the fracture energy is exceeded. No initial crack is inserted so the interface elements can be placed in the model at potential delamination sites where they will lie dormant until failure occurs.
 

Composite failure criteria
Composite failure criteria provide a means of predicting composite failure from the linear stress distribution. Within LUSAS the commonly used Tsai-Hill, Hoffman, Tsai-Wu (with Cowin extension), and Hashin (fibre and matrix) composite failure criteria are available.
 

Composite matrix failure modelling
The Hashin composite damage model has been implemented to model matrix/fibre failure in composite materials. The model can be used with the LUSAS solid composite elements. A set of failure criteria have been used to represent fibre and matrix failure. These failure criteria result in a degradation of the Young’s modulus, shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio where the damage has occurred. Unlike the composite failure criteria, matrix failure modelling can model progressive failure using a nonlinear analysis.

Comprehensive nonlinear analysis
LUSAS Composite has superior nonlinear problem solving capabilities.

Powerful facilities for geometric, material and boundary nonlinearity are available for problems involving large deformations, plasticity and collapse.
 

Fully automatic load incrementation, automatic recovery from convergence failure and restart features are all designed to enable newcomers to nonlinear analysis to quickly become proficient in solving a wide variety of nonlinear problems.
 

Results processing facilities provide automatic load-displacement graphs and viewing of yielded material.

Impact and contact analysis
For low or high speed impact and contact problems, contacting elements are automatically detected and specially developed ‘slidelines’ and ‘slidesurfaces’ handle the interaction that takes place at contacting regions greatly simplifying your analyses in 2D or 3D.
 

Dynamic analysis
Forced response, vibration and transient dynamics problems can be solved quicker with LUSAS Composite and, if you wish, by calculating the response for selected loadcases using the Interactive Modal Dynamics (IMD) results processing facilities. This gives shorter analysis times and reduced disk usage compared to a full transient dynamics assessment.
 

Working with CAD data
Model information can be exchanged with a wide range of CAD systems using industry standard exchange formats such as IGES and DXF, as well as directly with specific CAD systems using proprietary data exchange formats.