Adaptable structural analysis systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsGregory H. DeVore, Michael R. Rush
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structural analysis system and method for efficiently analyzing a finite element model (for example, loads and model data) that represents a structure include identifying, by a model analysis control unit, elements of the finite element model, automatically grouping, by the model analysis control unit, the elements into sets, and associating, by the model analysis control unit, the sets with components of the structure.
Claims20
A structural analysis method for forming a component of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- storing, in a finite element model database, a finite element model of a structure of an vehicle;
- coupling the finite element model database to a model analysis control unit that comprises one or more processors;
- identifying, by the model analysis control unit, a shape comprising elements of the finite element model;
- the identifying the shape includes selecting a first element, and identifying second elements that are directly connected to the first element;
- automatically grouping, by the model analysis control unit, the first element and the second elements into a set;
- associating, by the model analysis control unit, the set with a component of the structure;
- and
- varying the component based on the set.
A structural analysis system for forming a component of a vehicle, the structural analysis system comprising:
- a display;
- a finite element model database configured to store a finite element model of a structure;
- a model analysis control unit coupled to the finite element model database and comprising one or more processors configured to:
- identify shapes comprising elements of the finite element model that are directly connected;
- automatically group the elements into sets;
- associate the sets with a component of the structure;
- analyze the sets;
- display, on the display, the finite element model of the component;
- and
- vary the component displayed based on analyzing the sets.
A structural analysis method for forming a component of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- storing a finite element model of a structure of the vehicle in a finite element model database that is coupled to a model analysis control unit that comprises one or more processors;
- storing component data in a memory that is coupled to the model analysis control unit;
- identifying, by a model analysis control unit, shapes comprising elements of the finite element model, wherein the identifying comprises selecting a first element, identifying second elements that directly connect to the first element, identifying third elements that directly connect to each of the second elements, wherein the third elements are not previously identified as the first element or the second elements, and identifying additional elements until all elements of the finite element model are identified;
- automatically grouping, by the model analysis control unit, the elements into sets, wherein the automatically grouping comprises determining normal vectors for each of the elements that are identified, and grouping the sets based on normal vectors that are common to the elements;
- associating, by the model analysis control unit, the sets with components of the structure;
- organizing the components, by the model analysis control unit, into bays, wherein the organizing comprises projecting centroids of the elements along a direction of least variance between the centroids, determining strips within the bays based on the projecting, and determining a number of spanwise elements based on the determining the strips;
- displaying, on a display, the finite element model of the structure based on the associating and organizing;
- varying the finite element model of the structure;
- and
- forming the structure based on varying the finite element model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.