System and method for reading geometric data from a computer-aided design (CAD) model

A system for reading geometric data from a parametric model or a nonparametric model from a computer-aided design (CAD) model file, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a reader system coupled to the processor, the reader system comprising a reader tool configured to receive reader inputs from an input file and configured to generate reader output to an output file, wherein the reader tool comprises:
• an interface application, which when executed by the processor, is configured to operably receive automatically, using a first interface application, the input file of a three-dimensional model comprising data representing one or more components of the three-dimensional model, and is further configured to operably determine, using the first interface application, a type of a part represented by the three-dimensional model;
• the first interface application comprising instructions, one or more algorithms, or a combination thereof, and being further configured to automatically operably identify, select, and group geometric data associated with specific geometric data of the three-dimensional model, based on a set of parametric rules, and to operably extract from the input file, a portion of the geometric data representing the specific geometric data, to obtain extracted specific geometric data;
• wherein the portion of the geometric data representing the specific geometric data is extracted automatically by the first interface application, and the processor writes the extracted specific geometric data to the output file comprising a first geometry intermediate output file, based on the extracted specific geometric data, and further wherein the first geometry intermediate output file comprises language-neutral data for the part from which a finite element model may be generated to form a part model, after the type of the part represented by the three-dimensional model is determined and after the extracted specific geometric data is extracted;
• and
• a creator system coupled to the reader system and the processor, the creator system comprising a creator tool that uses a second interface application to receive creator input from the first geometry intermediate output file, and is configured to generate one or more creator outputs to one or more output files, wherein the interface application is further configured:
• to operably create automatically, using a second interface application, parameterized geometry data comprising geometric data for one or more components of the part model, and attributes defining relationships between the one or more components of the part model based on a set of predefined rules;
• to operably write, using the second interface application, the parameterized geometry data to a second geometry data output file corresponding to a part model to be analyzed;
• and
• to automatically, without user input, generate the finite element model from the second geometry data output file.

A computer-executable method for reading geometric data from a computer-aided design (CAD) model file, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading with a first interface application executed by a computer, a first input file comprising data representing one or more components of a three-dimensional model;
• determining with the first interface application executed by the computer, a type of a part represented by the three-dimensional model;
• identifying, selecting and grouping with the first interface application, geometric data associated with specific geometric data of the three-dimensional model, based on a set of parametric rules;
• extracting automatically by the first interface application from the first input file, a portion of the geometric data representing the specific geometric data of the three-dimensional model, to obtain extracted specific geometric data;
• writing with the computer, the extracted specific geometric data, to a first geometry intermediate output file, based on the extracted specific geometric data, wherein the first geometry intermediate output file comprises language-neutral data for the type of the part from which a finite element model may be generated to form a part model, after determining the type of the part represented by the three-dimensional model and after extracting the extracted specific geometric data;
• creating automatically, using a second interface application executed by the computer, parameterized geometry data comprising geometric data for one or more components of the part model, and attributes defining relationships between the one or more components of the part model, based on a set of predefined rules;
• writing the parameterized geometry data to a second geometry data output file corresponding to the part model that is to be analyzed;
• and
• automatically, without user input, generating the finite element model from the second geometry data output file.