Method and system for defining material properties hierarchically in finite element analysis

A computer recordable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computer for defining material properties hierarchically in finite element analysis of a structure represented by a plurality of finite elements by a method comprising:

• receiving at least one set of material property definitions to be used in a finite element analysis of the structure in the computer;
• converting each of the at least one set of material property definitions to a new material type in a hierarchical relationship of material types stored in the computer, wherein the new material type is configured for being assigned to one or more of the finite elements;
• when said each of the at least one set of material property definitions is defined as a root material type, assigning the new material type to the root of the hierarchical relationship;
• reading and storing explicitly defined properties in said each of the at least one set of material property definitions as the material properties of the new material type;
• otherwise when said each of the at least one set of material property definitions is not defined as a root material type, locating a parent of the new material type from the hierarchical relationship;
• assigning the new material type as a child of the parent in the hierarchical relationship;
• inheriting or including material properties of the parent as the material properties of the new material type;
• reading and storing explicitly defined properties in said each of the at least one set of material property definitions to update the material properties of the new material type;
• and
• displaying, in a monitor coupled to the computer, a graphical representation of the hierarchical relationship as desired, wherein the graphical representation of the hierarchical relationship is configured for assisting users of the finite element analysis to efficiently create a finite element analysis model.

A system for defining material properties hierarchically in finite element analysis of a structure represented by a plurality of finite elements, the system comprising:

• an I/O interface;
• a communication interface;
• a secondary memory;
• a main memory for storing computer readable code for an application module;
• at least one processor coupled to the main memory, the secondary memory, the I/O interface, and the communication interface, said at least one processor executing the computer readable code in the main memory to cause the application module to perform operations of:
• receiving at least one set of material property definitions to be used in a finite element analysis of the structure;
• converting each of the at least one set of material property definitions to a new material type in a hierarchical relationship of material types stored in the main memory, wherein the new material type is configured for being assigned to one or more of the finite elements;
• when said each of the at least one set of material property definitions is defined as a root material type, assigning the new material type to the root of the hierarchical relationship;
• and
• reading and storing explicitly defined properties in said each of the at least one set of material property definitions as the material properties of the new material type;
• otherwise when said each of the at least one set of material property definitions is not defined as a root material type,
• locating a parent of the new material type from the hierarchical relationship;
• assigning the new material type as a child of the parent in the hierarchical relationship;
• inheriting or including material properties of the parent as the material properties of the new material type;
• and
• reading and storing explicitly defined properties in said each of the at least one set of material property definitions to update the material properties of the new material type therefore;
• and
• displaying, in a monitor coupled to the system, a graphical representation of the hierarchical relationship of material types as desired, wherein the graphical representation of the hierarchical relationship is configured for assisting users of the finite element analysis to efficiently create a finite element analysis model.