Support apparatus, design support method, and program

A method for predicting a plane shape model of a fiber material before being processed into a product by changing a shape of the fiber material, the method comprising:

• creating a 3-dimensional shape model of the product, wherein the 3-dimensional shape model is configured as a layered object, in which a plurality of fiber layers formed by interlacing warp yarns with weft yarns are placed on top of each other, and wherein the 3-dimensional shape model has a thickness corresponding to the plurality of fiber layers;
• creating a curved shape model based on the 3-dimensional shape model, wherein the curved shaped model is configured of an upper layer and a lower layer of the plurality of fiber layers;
• setting a positional relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer, wherein the setting includes dividing each of the upper layer and the lower layer into a plurality of polygons and causing 3-dimensional coordinates of the plurality of polygons of the upper layer to correspond to 3-dimensional coordinates of the plurality of polygons of the lower layer;
• accepting directions of the warp yarns and the weft yarns of the fiber materials, the directions being input via an input device;
• setting an orientation vector to each of polygons positioned at a border of the upper layer and each of polygons positioned at a border of the lower layer based on the directions of the warp yarns and the direction of the weft yarns;
• setting a vector field to each of the upper layer and the lower layer by causing the orientation vector of the upper layer to be transmitted to all the polygons of the upper layer and causing the orientation vector of the lower layer to be transmitted to all the polygons of the lower layer by simulating a state of heat transfer;
• and
• setting the plane shape model by expanding each of the upper layer and the lower layer in plane coordinates so as to maintain each vector field of the upper layer and the lower layer and the positional relationship between the upper field and the lower field and combining the upper layer and the lower layer which are expanded in the plane coordinates.

A non-transitory computer readable data medium storing an executable program, wherein the program, when executed, causes a computer to execute a method for predicting a plane shape model of a fiber material before being processed into a product by changing a shape of the fiber material comprising:

• creating a 3-dimensional shape model of the product, wherein the 3-dimensional shape model is configured as a layered object, in which a plurality of fiber layers formed by interlacing warp yarns with weft yarns are placed on top of each other, and wherein the 3-dimensional shape model has a thickness corresponding to the plurality of fiber layers;
• creating a curved shape model based on the 3-dimensional shape model, wherein the curved shaped model is configured of an upper layer and a lower layer of the plurality of fiber layers;
• setting a positional relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer, wherein the setting includes dividing each of the upper layer and the lower layer into a plurality of polygons and causing 3-dimensional coordinates of the plurality of polygons of the upper layer to correspond to 3-dimensional coordinates of the plurality of polygons of the lower layer;
• accepting directions of the warp yarns and the weft yarns of the fiber materials, the directions being input via an input device;
• setting an orientation vector to each of polygons positioned at a border of the upper layer and each of polygons positioned at a border of the lower layer based on the directions of the warp yarns and the direction of the weft yarns;
• setting a vector field to each of the upper layer and the lower layer by causing the orientation vector of the upper layer to be transmitted to all the polygons of the upper layer and causing the orientation vector of the lower layer to be transmitted to all the polygons of the lower layer by simulating a state of heat transfer;
• and
• setting the plane shape model by expanding each of the upper layer and the lower layer in plane coordinates so as to maintain each vector field of the upper layer and the lower layer and the positional relationship between the upper field and the lower field and combining the upper layer and the lower layer which are expanded in the plane coordinates.