# US 2013/0218540 A1 · Automated method to determine composite material constituent properties > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0218540 A1 - Document ID: US20130218540A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/846,061 - Filed: 2013-03-18 - Published: 2013-08-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-21 - Assignees: Firehole Technologies - Inventors: Ray Fertig; Emmett Nelson; Don Robbins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130218540A1 ## CPC - G06F 30/23: using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] - G06F 2113/24: Sheet material - G06F 2113/26: Composites - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method of determining in situ composite material constituent properties is provided. In one example computer software is provided that automatically determines adjusted material properties or in situ properties of each constituent of a composite material. Methods shown ensure that a finite element model will consistently predict material behavior not just at one desired stress/strain state, but in all simulated states. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to: accept a set of user input composite material properties, including; a composite modulus in a first direction; a composite modulus in a second direction normal to the first direction; a composite shear modulus in a plane that includes the first direction and the second direction; a composite Poisson ratio in a plane that includes the first direction and the second direction; accept a user input composite microstructure; and automatically compute adjusted material properties of all constituents of the composite material, wherein a set of consistent fixed constituent property constraints are utilised to obtain the adjusted material property. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes at least one directional component of a thermal expansion coefficient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes an additional composite modulus in a third direction normal to the first direction and the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The machine-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes an additional composite shear modulus in a plane that includes the first direction and the third direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes an additional composite shear modulus in a plane that includes the second direction and the third direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The machine-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes an additional composite Poisson ratio in a plane that includes the first direction and the third direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes an additional composite Poisson ratio in a plane that includes the second direction and the third direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The machine-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes two directional components of a thermal expansion coefficient in directions that are normal to one another. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The machine-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the set of user input composite material properties includes thee directional components of a thermal expansion coefficient in directions that are normal to one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein accepting a user input composite microstructure includes accepting a carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite microstructure condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein accepting a user input composite microstructure includes accepting a woven carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite microstructure condition. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: entering a set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties into a computer memory, including: a composite modulus in a first direction; a composite modulus in a second direction normal to the first direction; a composite shear modulus in a plane that includes the first direction and the second direction; a composite Poisson ratio in a plane that includes the first direction and the second direction; entering a carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite microstructure into the computer; processing the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties and the carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite microstructure to determine adjusted material properties of all constituents of the composite material, wherein a set of fixed constituent property constraints are utilised to obtain the adjusted material properties. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering at least one directional component of a thermal expansion coefficient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering an additional composite modulus in a third direction normal to the first direction and the second direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering an additional composite shear modulus in a plane that includes the first direction and the third direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering an additional composite shear modulus in a plane that includes the second direction and the third direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering an additional composite Poisson ratio in a plane that includes the first direction and the third direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering an additional composite Poisson ratio in a plane that includes the second direction and the third direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering two directional components of a thermal expansion coefficient in directions that are normal to one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein entering the set of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite material properties includes entering thee directional components of a thermal expansion coefficient in directions that are normal to one another.