Method for coupling non-destructive inspection data for a material or structure to an analysis tool

Abstract

A computer aided method is provided for coupling non-destructive inspection data for a material or structure to an analysis tool. The method includes receiving a voxel data representation of a damaged area of the material or structure, and generating a finite element mesh based on the voxel data representation. The finite element mesh includes a plurality of nodes, each node corresponding to one or more voxels of the voxel data representation. The method further includes integrating damage information from the voxel data representation into the finite element mesh by applying at least one integration rule, the damage information indicating whether or not a given voxel has sustained damage. Damage information for areas of the finite element mesh that do not include damage information is interpolated by applying at least one interpolation rule. A finite element model including a finite element mesh having damage information associated therewith is output.

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