Back to results
US 7,606,688 B2Granted
Object oriented finite element modeling tools
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorPaul Z. Thunemann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for creating a finite element model are disclosed that include various processes including: superimposing a rectangular array of nodes and nodal-pointers onto a wire-frame geometry, and creating a set of geometric-elements using the rectangular array.
Claims21
A computer-readable storage medium including computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for creating a finite element model of a structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating an array of nodes and nodal-pointers based on a wire-frame geometry representing the structure, the nodes and nodal-pointers being stored on the computer readable storage medium;
- creating a set of geometric-elements using the array of nodes and nodal-pointers, with a plurality of node paths collapsing upon one another while always maintaining a predetermined rectangular form of the nodes and nodal-pointers,
- assigning a set of one or more first points to a cell in a rectangular array including condensing at least two of the points onto one node;
- and
- using the finite element model to predict stresses in the structure.
2 more elements
An apparatus for creating a finite element model of a structure, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory containing computer-executable instructions;
- an array-forming means for forming an array of nodes and plurality of nodal-pointers based on a mesh of points representing the structure;
- an element-building means for creating a set of geometric-elements using the array;
- and
- a family-defining means for defining at least one family of geometric-elements, wherein the family of geometric-elements contains a sub-set of geometric-elements formed by the element-building means, and wherein the family of geometric-elements is formed using a rectangular array;
- wherein the family-defining means including the one family of geometric elements includes one or more object-oriented routines configured to form an array containing a plurality of nodes and at least one nodal-pointer for creating the finite element model, and the object-oriented routines and the plurality of nodes and the nodal-pointer being stored in the memory;
- wherein the family-defining means of one or more object-oriented routines is configured to form a rectangular array regardless of the geometric form of the structure;
- and
- a means for assigning a set of one or more first points to a respective cell in a rectangular array, including condensing at least two of the points onto one node.
7 more elements
An apparatus for creating a finite element model of a structure, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory containing an array of nodes representative of a geometric structure;
- a collection of one or more object-oriented routines configured to create a the finite element model of the structure;
- and
- a means for assigning one or more first points to a respective cell in a rectangular array, including condensing at least two of the points onto one node;
- wherein the object-oriented routines include a first subset of one or more object-oriented routines that, when executed by the processor, form an array containing a plurality of nodes and at least one nodal-pointer;
- wherein the first subset of one or more object-oriented routines is configured to form a rectangular array regardless of the geometric form of the structure.
4 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a structure, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory;
- an element-building device configured to operate on a rectangular array, wherein the rectangular array is an N-by-M array containing a plurality of nodes and at least one nodal pointer pointing to a first node for analyzing the structure, the element-building device being stored in the memory and being executable by the processor;
- wherein the element-building device includes a number of object-oriented routines configured to derive a plurality of geometric-elements from the rectangular array, and wherein the derived geometric-elements include at least one of a polygon and a polyhedron;
- wherein the object-oriented routines include a first subset of one or more object oriented routines that, when executed by the processor, form the array containing the plurality of nodes and the nodal-pointer, with the plurality of nodes and the nodal-pointer being stored in the memory;
- wherein the first subset of one or more object-oriented routines is configured to form the rectangular array regardless of the geometric form of the structure;
- and
- a means for assigning one or more first points to a respective cell in the rectangular array, including condensing at least two of the points onto one node.
5 more elements
A computer-readable storage medium that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a processor, enables a processor-based system to perform the following method comprising the steps of:
- generating a collection of one or more object-oriented routines configured to create a finite element model of a structure;
- executing the object-oriented routines including a first subset of one or more object routines that, when executed by the processor form a rectangular array containing a plurality of nodes and at least one nodal pointer, the first subset of the object-oriented routines being configured to form the rectangular array regardless of the geometric form of the structure;
- collapsing a plurality of node paths upon one another while the rectangular array of the nodes and nodal-pointers is maintained;
- assigning a set of one or more points to a cell in the rectangular array;
- condensing at least two of the points onto one of the nodes;
- and
- using the finite element model to predict stresses in the structure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.