System and method of developing a can bottom profile and a can with a domed bottom structure

A method executed by a computer system as part of a computer-implemented program for developing a can design profile from a can design model geometrically represented in parametric form using a performance condition and a design constraint, the can design model having a performance in response to expected forces applied thereto, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting a plurality of optimization condition sets, each of the plurality of optimization condition sets including selected geometric parameters from the parametric form of the can design model and values for the selected geometric parameters;
• (b) performing finite element analysis on the parametric form of the can design model using each of the plurality of optimization condition sets to determine a performance of the can design model in response to the expected forces given the values for the selected geometric parameters;
• and
• (c) modifying the values of the selected geometric parameters in each of the plurality of optimization condition sets based on the performance of step (b).

A method of fabricating a can design profile for an article of manufacture from a can design model geometrically represented in parametric form using a performance condition and a design constraint, the can design model having a performance in response to expected forces applied thereto, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting optimization conditions including selected geometric parameters from the parametric form of the can design model and values for the selected geometric parameters;
• (b) performing finite element analysis on the parametric form of the can design model based on the selected optimization conditions to determine a performance of the can design model in response to the expected forces given the values for the selected geometric parameters;
• (c) modifying the values of the selected geometric parameters based on the performance from step (b);
• and
• (d) converting the can design model in parametric form into the can design profile.

A computer system for developing a can design profile from a can design model geometrically represented in parametric form using a performance condition and a design constraint, the can design model having a performance in response to expected forces applied thereto, said system comprising:

• (a) selection means for selecting optimization conditions including selected geometric parameters from the parametric form of the can design model and values for the selected geometric parameters;
• (b) finite element analysis means for performing finite element analysis on the parametric form of the can design model based on the selected optimization conditions to determine a performance of the can design model in response to the expected forces given the values for the selected geometric parameters;
• (c) processing means for modifying the values of the selected geometric parameters based on the performance from the performed finite element analysis;
• and
• (d) conversion means for converting the can design model in parametric form into the can design profile.