"Numerous industries are turning to composite materials in an effort to improve their products while simultaneously reducing production costs. However, composites are relatively new materials for designers, and traditional software tools have not readily adapted to the unique complexities of these materials, resulting in less than optimal designs and increased product costs. The Firehole team recognized the need for a simple, accurate and reliable analysis tool for composites and developed Helius:MCT™," said Jerad Stack, CEO of Firehole Technologies.
Helius:MCT™ is unique among commercially available alternatives in that it is based on Multicontinuum Technology ( MCT), an analysis technology for composite structures that decomposes stress and strain fields of a composite material into stress and strain fields for the fiber and matrix components. This additional information provides insight for understanding sources of structural level behavior and it allows for a more fundamental basis for predicting initiation and progression of material damage. Helius:MCT™ provides accurate simulation capabilities while at the same time being numerically efficient and simple to use. Using Helius:MCT™, engineers can reliably predict the performance of prototype or concept composite structures prior to actual fabrication and testing, thus reducing the total cost and time of the development cycle while simultaneously increasing structural reliability.
During its development, Helius:MCT™ was used by various organizations, including the US Air Force, to provide accurate composite simulation and identify potential cost reductions in composite structures. Jeff Welsh, Chief of the Research, Development, Technology & Engineering Division of the Air Force Operational Responsive Space Office, noted that, "With innovate analysis technologies such as Helius:MCT™ from Firehole Technologies, I am convinced that the mass of many composite space structures could be reduced by as much as 40%, which translates into tremendous savings for space applications."
The Helius:MCT™ product has been developed to enhance existing analysis software without requiring any changes in the structural design process. Furthermore, the Firehole team readily provides its extensive composites knowledge and experience to ensure customer success. Andrew Nelson, COO of XCOR Aerospace, noted, "We at XCOR believe that the Lynx will benefit greatly from working with Firehole Technologies. Technology is only part of the equation when you are looking at a good partner. In Firehole, we not only found advanced technology and experience, we found a team with leadership and ability that will be as dedicated to ensuring that our project is a successful as we are."
About Firehole Technologies Inc.
Firehole Technologies supplies innovative computer-aided simulation software and services for composite materials to the aerospace, defense, automotive and energy industries. Firehole’s Helius:MCT™ software enables the design of composite structures without the numerous expensive testing cycles traditionally deployed, allowing for a faster time-to-market and more reliable designs. The company’s mission is to enable wide-spread use of composite materials leading to lighter, stronger and more fuel efficient applications. For more information, visit www.fireholetech.com.
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Firehole Technologies Inc.
Jason Gies, 307-460-4763
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