Methods and systems for internally generating contact entities to model contact behavior in simulations involving non-circular beam elements

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention allow a computer-aided design (CAD) software user to accurately model the contact behavior of a real-world object with minimal simulation overhead. Embodiments automatically generate contact entities from indicated cross-sectional geometry of a beam element model to represent the end of a surface of the beam element model. A mesh is established based on the automatically generated contact entities to represent geometric aspects of the surface of the beam element model. A simulation is then performed in which the mesh is constrained according to aspects of the beam element model to determine the contact behavior of the real-world object.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] By using three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) models, such as finite element models and solid models, CAD software offers numerous benefits to users in enabling them to model the structure and behavior of complex real-world objects. CAD software users typically attempt to model not only individual static real-world objects, but also the interactions between multiple real-world objects and their components, in order to gather information related to real-world use cases for various real-world objects. Such interactions between objects often involve physical contact between objects in various states of motion.

[0002] Beam elements are a common type of component used in many industries. Therefore, beam elements are often the core of CAD models created by CAD software users working in these industries. Contact events involving the modeled beam elements are typically simulated in the CAD environment to evaluate the effects of beam-like components contacting, colliding with, impacting, or otherwise physically interacting with other beams or non-beam components. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In existing methods, a circular cross-section is typically assumed in beam element modeling and behavior (e.g., contact) simulation for ease of computation. However, the cross-sectional geometry of beam elements has a significant impact on their physical behavior, particularly during contact events. Therefore, functionality is needed to improve these existing methods and to more accurately model and simulate the physical behavior of beam elements. The embodiments provide such functionality.

[0004] One such embodiment provides these improvements by automatically generating contact entities (of the CAD model) based on indications of the cross-sectional geometry of beam elements. The embodiment automatically creates contact entities within the CAD model to provide reference points from which the ends of the surfaces of a given modeled component can be defined, allowing the physical effects of contact events between a given modeled component and another modeled component to be determined through simulation. In other words, the automatically generated contact entities define or otherwise logically act as possible contact points on the model for the purpose of simulating the behavior of the modeled objects. The defined possible contact points improve the accuracy of simulations that meet the needs of the art.

[0005] Another embodiment relates to a computer-implemented method that begins by determining the contact behavior of a real-world object by creating a beam element model representing a component of the real-world object in memory. In this embodiment, the beam element model includes beam nodes. To continue, the method automatically generates contact entities of the beam element model based on the cross-sectional geometry of the component of the real-world object and the created beam element model. Next, this embodiment establishes a mesh based on the generated contact entities, the mesh representing the surface geometry of the component of the real-world object. Furthermore, the contact behavior of the real-world object is determined by performing a computer-based simulation using the beam element model and the established mesh, wherein the motion of the mesh is constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam nodes.

[0006] In another embodiment of the method, the generated contact entities comprise contact nodes of a beam element model. In such embodiments, the method includes connecting contact nodes to establish a mesh. An embodiment connects contact nodes using a tessellation pattern. In another embodiment, the method includes positioning the contact nodes based on cross-sectional geometry. According to an embodiment, establishing the mesh includes connecting contact entities generated based on a first cross-sectional geometry to corresponding contact entities generated based on a second cross-sectional geometry.

[0007] In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a user indication of a cross-sectional geometry in the form of keywords. In some such embodiments, the method includes providing a drop-down menu, a pop-up menu, other user-selectable lists, etc. The drop-down menu may display multiple keywords or representations thereof. The user indication of the cross-sectional geometry can be received by the user selecting a keyword from multiple keywords from the drop-down menu.

[0008] In some embodiments of the method, the beam will comprise a pair of beam nodes. In such embodiments, creating a beam element model includes (i) defining the edges between the pair of beam nodes, and (ii) defining the material comprising the beam. In some embodiments of the method, a component of a real-world object is a first component, and determining the contact behavior of the real-world object includes receiving a finite element model of a second component. In such embodiments, the method includes performing a simulation using the beam element model, the created mesh, and the finite element model of the received second component to determine the contact behavior of the first component in response to contact with the second component.

[0009] Another embodiment relates to a system comprising a processor and a memory having computer code instructions stored thereon. In such embodiments, the processor and the memory having computer code instructions are configured to cause the system to implement any of the embodiments or combinations of embodiments described herein.

[0010] In another embodiment, a computer program product comprising computer-readable program instructions is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In such embodiments, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform any of the embodiments or combinations of embodiments described herein. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The foregoing will become clear from the following more detailed description of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where similar reference numerals refer to the same parts in different views. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather the emphasis is on the illustrated embodiments.

[0012] Figure 1 A beam element model representing a component that represents the bending of a real-world object is shown.

[0013] Figure 2A -B shows a beam element model representing an example component of a real-world object.

[0014] Figure 3A -C illustrates a beam element model representing an example component of a real-world object at various modeling stages, according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 4A -C illustrates a beam element model, according to an embodiment, representing an example component of a real-world object in various stages of responding to contact with a modeled mass.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of various example methods for automatically determining the contact behavior of real-world objects according to embodiments.

[0017] Figure 6A -C illustrates the cross-sectional geometry of an example beam element model with various optional fillet radii according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 7 and 8A A beam element model with an example cross-sectional geometry is shown according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 8B An example of having Figure 8A The example cross-sectional geometry of the beam element model represents a component of a real-world object undergoing torsion.

[0020] Figure 9 An example CAD model is shown in the embodiment for automatically determining contact behavior.

[0021] Figure 10A -B illustrates a beam element model, which represents a pair of sample real-world objects that can be used in an embodiment to automatically determine the mutual contact behavior of the objects.

[0022] Figure 11 A computer network or similar digital processing environment in which embodiments of the invention may be implemented is described.

[0023] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A block diagram illustrating the internal structure of a computer in an environment. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The following is a description of an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] As described above, the embodiments provide an improved method for determining the physical behavior of real-world objects (specifically, beams). In computer-based simulations and modeling, such as finite element simulations, beam elements are modeled to demonstrate or determine, through simulation, the bending or other physical responses of a structure (e.g., an elongated structure). Figure 1 A representation (i.e., model) 100 of an elongated component modeled with five beam elements 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, and 105e is shown, which relate to six beam nodes 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e, and 110f. Figure 1 Beam nodes 110a-f are visible, with line segments 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, and 108e between adjacent beam nodes. These line segments represent beam edges 108a-e. The following section will at least discuss... Figure 3B and 4A The beam edges are further described. Each beam element 105a-e consists of a beam edge and two beam nodes. In example model 100, beam element 105a consists of nodes 110a and 110b connected by edge 108a. Beam element 105b consists of nodes 110b and 110c connected by edge 108b. Beam element 105c consists of nodes 110c and 110d connected by edge 108c. Beam element 105d consists of nodes 110d and 110e connected by edge 108d, and beam element 105e consists of nodes 110e and 110f connected by edge 108e.

[0026] Model 100 also depicts cross-sectional geometries 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e and 120f, which are perpendicular to the beam edges 108a-e, respectively. Figure 1The depiction of the cross-sectional geometry 120a-f is shown to vary slightly, corresponding to the orientation changes in the beam element models 105a-e, centered on the beam edges 108a-e. In this example, the cross-sectional geometry 120a-f is rectangular, but the embodiment is not limited to a rectangular cross-sectional geometry and any desired cross-sectional shape can be used. For example, in other examples, the embodiment may employ the cross-section of beams such as I-beams, L-beams, and U-beams.

[0027] For example, Figure 1 The representation 100 incorporates three translational degrees of freedom and three rotational degrees of freedom at each node 110a-e, but may incorporate other quantities of translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Figure 1 Beam element models of type 105a-e can be used to determine the contact behavior between individual beam element components of a real-world object. Such beam element models 105a-e can also be used to demonstrate the bending properties or other responses of at least a single beam element or similar slender structure. The behavior and properties determined using beam element components (e.g., components 105a-e) can be used to design, manufacture, and improve real-world objects represented by beam element components. Design modifications to strengthen beams, for example, by changing the beam's thickness, can be determined using the simulation methods and systems described herein.

[0028] The accuracy of approximating the continuous curve properties of a bending beam can be increased by increasing the number of beam elements in the model and correspondingly decreasing the size of the beam elements. For example, in simulating car crash events, the strategy described in this paper can be used to represent slender components similar to struts, so that the stiffness and inertia aspects of the component (strut) are accurately and efficiently represented by beam elements. In this example, surfaces based on membrane or surface elements can provide an accurate geometric representation for contact calculations.

[0029] Historically, regardless of the actual cross-sectional area of ​​the beam, existing simulation methods have modeled beams using a circular cross-section. This is... Figure 2A The diagram shows a representation 200a of a beam element model 205a depicting a beam with a circular cross-sectional geometry 220a. However, treating all beams as circular is problematic. For example, representing a beam I using a beam with a circular cross-section may produce inaccurate simulation results.

[0030] Therefore, a realistic representation is needed for beams with rectangular and other cross-sections. Figure 2B An example representation 200b of such a beam element model 205b with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 220b is depicted, which can be accurately and realistically simulated using the embodiments described herein. By using the embodiments described herein, the behavior (e.g., physical behavior) of the beam element model 205b in contact events can be accurately determined.

[0031] Figure 3AA representation 300a of a beam element model 305a is shown. The beam element model 305a is shown as having a circular cross-sectional geometry 320a. The circular cross-sectional geometry 320a provides efficient calculations regarding the movement or other aspects of the beam element model 305a. However, when the real-world object represented by model 305a does not have a circular cross-sectional geometry in the real world, the circular cross-sectional geometry 320a does not provide an accurate simulation of the effects of contact events. For example, the beam element model 305a, or an object contacting a beam element represented by beam element model 305a, may exhibit differences in motion deflection due to contact events between them.

[0032] For a beam element with a circular cross-sectional geometry, the beam element is represented as follows: Figure 3A The cylindrical shape shown has contact forces resisting penetration aligned radially from the beam edge to the mass point. These beam edges are defined along the longitudinal axis of the beam element and extend within the cylindrical representation of the beam element. Further description of the beam edge is provided below. Simulating contact requires effectively and accurately determining when and where impact and / or penetration occur, as well as determining the magnitude and direction of the contact forces resisting penetration and modeling frictional behavior.

[0033] However, as industry users typically simulate within CAD software environments, the radial direction is not related to non-circular cross-sections because the contact forces resisting penetration should generally be orthogonal to the outside of the beam. Figure 3B A representation 300b of a beam element model 305b with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 320b is shown. This beam element model 305b, with its rectangular cross-sectional geometry 320b, allows for more accurate modeling of a given beam element and thus more accurate simulation of contact events involving that beam element.

[0034] An improvement to the historical approach of modeling all beams as having circular cross-sectional areas requires the user to perform a tedious manual procedure. This manual procedure requires the following strategy to attempt to more realistically handle the beam cross-sectional shape in contact calculations. First, beam elements are used to represent the physical stiffness behavior of the component or assembly. Next, a mesh of membrane elements (or stiffnessless "surface elements") with negligible stiffness is built in memory around the beam elements to represent the surface geometry of the component. The user manually specifies the node positions for each membrane or surface element. Specifying a larger number of membrane or surface elements allows for a more accurate representation of the component's surface geometry. Typical applications may require the user to manually specify, for example, more than one hundred, more than one thousand, or more than one thousand membrane or surface elements for a single beam element. Finally, the node positions of the membrane or surface elements are constrained to move according to the movement of the beam nodes. The user establishes such constraints for each membrane or surface element of the beam, thus forcing the coordinates of the membrane or surface element to depend on the coordinates of the beam nodes.

[0035] The basic entities involved in finite element method (FEM) simulations of internal contact calculations include nodes (representing points), edges (one-dimensional segment connection nodes), and faces (two-dimensional polygons, typically representing exposed edges in a finite element method, with nodes at the vertices). For example... Figure 1 Beam nodes 110a-f, etc., are positioned along the beam reference line or the longitudinal axis of the beam. For example... Figure 1 The beam edges 108a-e, etc., connect to beam nodes. Beam edges can be used to determine the radial direction from one beam edge to another. Beam edges can also be used to determine the axial position of another point projected radially onto the beam edge. Beam edges may not always be set along the surface of the modeled beam, but may be set inside the modeled beam. The faces connecting beam nodes do not naturally exist because beam edges typically extend inside their respective beams.

[0036] Besides beam nodes and beam edges, other types of entities that may be involved in contact calculations within finite element simulations include contact entities such as contact nodes, contact edges, and contact surfaces. For example, data related to contact nodes can be used for such contact calculations, while data related to contact edges and surfaces can be generated from such contact calculations.

[0037] Figure 3C A mesh representation 300c of a beam element model 305c using a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 320c is shown, wherein contact nodes 314, contact edges 318, and contact surfaces 321 are represented as contact entities 315 connected to form the mesh 300c. The mesh 300c represents the surface geometry of the beam element model 305c and can be constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam element model 305c or its aspects. Figure 3C The grid 300c shown has a tessellation pattern formed by contact nodes 314, contact edges 318, and contact surfaces 321. It should be noted that the embodiment is not limited to a tessellation grid representation, and any grid representation can be used.

[0038] Figure 4A A front view 400a of beam element model 405a is shown, in which beam node 410a is located at the center of cross section 420a of beam element model 405a, and in which, according to the simulation, the modeled mass 412a travels from right to left and is currently impacting beam element model 405a. Beam nodes are interchangeably referred to as beam element nodes herein. Beam element model 405a in... Figure 4A The image shows a beam element model 405a with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry, denoted as 420a. Figure 4A The image shows a beam element model 405a viewed directly from its end, which has a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 420a, such that the longitudinal axis of the beam element model 405a is perpendicular to the axis from which it can be observed. Figure 4AThe plane of the page, screen, or other display component. Beam node 410a may be a proximal beam node connected to at least one distal beam node located away from the proximal beam node, such that the beam edge connecting the proximal and distal beam nodes is oriented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of beam 405a. The proximal and distal beam nodes, together with the beam edge located therebetween, influence the determination of the contact entity related to the surface geometry of the beam. Due to Figure 4A The aforementioned vertical orientation of the beam element model 405a, therefore, represents the contact surfaces 421a-1 and 421a-2 (whose constituent edges are set along the length of the beam) in... Figure 4A It is not visible outside its individual corresponding edge.

[0039] Figure 4B An isometric view 400b of a beam element model 405b with beam node 410b is shown. Figure 4B The beam element model 405b shows Figure 4A The beam element model 405a changes orientation shortly after experiencing a contact event. In the contact event, the beam element model 405b reacts as if the beam element had been impacted by a moving mass modeled by mass 412b. For example... Figure 4B As can be seen, contact with mass 412b has caused the beam element model 405b to begin rotating, thereby exposing a pair of surfaces 421b-1 and 421b-2 representing the contact surface, whose constituent edges are set along the length of beam 405a. Despite the rotational orientation, Figure 4B The rectangular cross-sectional geometry 420b is easily visible. From... Figure 4B What is more difficult to discern but helpful for understanding is that, shortly after the contact event, the modeled mass 412b has bounced off the beam element model 405b and is traveling in a direction different from its initial direction of travel before the impact (contact event).

[0040] Figure 4C The representation 400c of the beam element model 405c with beam node 410c is shown. Figure 4C The beam element model 405c shows a time elapsed since the aforementioned contact event, rather than... Figure 4B The value represents the time elapsed after 400b. Figure 4B Another change in orientation for beam element model 405b. Figure 4C From this, it can be seen that, with Figure 4B The view depicting 400b shows a different rotational orientation for beam element model 405c compared to the orientation described above. The modeled mass point 412c, surfaces 421c-1 and 421c-2 representing the contact surfaces, and cross-sectional geometry 420c are in... Figure 4C As can be seen, they are in Figure 4BThe corresponding parts 412b, 421b-1, 421b-2, and 420b can also be seen.

[0041] Figure 5 A computer-implemented method 500 for determining the contact behavior of a real-world object according to an example embodiment is illustrated. Method 500 begins by creating a beam element model 505 in computer memory. In an embodiment, the created beam element model 505 represents a component of a real-world object and includes one or more beam nodes 510. The one or more beam nodes 510 are positioned along a beam reference line or the longitudinal axis of the beam model 505, such as... Figure 1 The beam nodes 110a-f are shown. One or more beam nodes may be located at the center of the cross-section of the beam element model 505, as shown below. Figure 4A The beam nodes 410a-c are shown in section -C. Typically, the created beam element model 505 contains multiple beam nodes 510. These multiple beam nodes 510 may include near-end beam nodes and far-end beam nodes located at opposite longitudinal ends of the beam element model 505. The created beam element model 505 includes beam edges, such as... Figure 1 Any of the beam edges 108a-e, the beam edges being represented by line segments, the line segments (i) connecting a pair of adjacent beam nodes and (ii) defining the length and orientation of the corresponding segment of the beam element model 505.

[0042] Method 500 continues, and based on both the cross-sectional geometry 520 of the real-world component and the created beam element model 505, contact entities 515 (belonging to or used in the beam element model) are automatically generated. In an embodiment, a mesh 525 is created based on the generated contact entities 515. The created mesh 525 represents the surface geometry 530 of the component of the real-world object. To continue, a computer-based simulation is performed using the created beam element model 505 and the created mesh 525 to determine the contact behavior of the real-world object 535. In the simulation, the motion of the mesh is constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam nodes 510. Therefore, for the purpose of simulating the behavior of the modeled object, the automatically generated contact entities define or otherwise logically act as possible contact points on the model. Such defined contact points improve the accuracy of simulations that have not been achieved until now.

[0043] In an embodiment of method 500, for example, automatically generated contact nodes, contact edges, and contact surfaces (surface or subsurface portions of the established mesh) may participate in the contact simulation performed at step 535 in a substantially equal amount with other contact nodes, contact edges, and contact surfaces to detect, for example, penetration and calculate contact forces acting on the contact nodes.

[0044] During the simulation at step 535, the contact forces acting on the automatically generated contact nodes of this disclosure can be redirected to the nodal forces and moments of the same beam nodes controlling their motion, so that the subsequent motion and rotation of the beam nodes are appropriately influenced by the contact forces. This can be achieved using force redistribution equations common to or known in the art.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment based on the foregoing example embodiment 500, the automatically generated contact entity 515 includes contact nodes, for example... Figure 3C The grid shown represents contact node 314 of 300c. In this embodiment, establishing the grid 525 includes connecting contact nodes 314. Contact node 314 can be referenced as above. Figure 3C The mosaic patterns shown and described are connected.

[0046] In yet another alternative embodiment based on the foregoing example embodiment 500, the method establishes a mesh 525 based on contact entities 515, which are automatically generated based on a plurality of cross-sectional geometries 520. In such embodiments, the plurality of cross-sectional geometries 520 include at least a first cross-sectional geometry and a second cross-sectional geometry. To continue, the method includes connecting contact entities generated based on the first cross-sectional geometry to contact entities generated based on the second cross-sectional geometry.

[0047] Another embodiment of method 500 includes obtaining an indication of the cross-sectional geometry 520 of a component of a real-world object from a user. In a non-limiting example embodiment, a drop-down menu is provided. The provided drop-down menu may display multiple keywords or representations thereof. In such embodiments, a user indication of the cross-sectional geometry 520 in the form of a keyword selected by the user from multiple keywords displayed in the provided drop-down menu is received. Pop-up menus, lists of other user-interactive keywords or representations thereof, other graphical user interface widgets, etc., are suitable.

[0048] In another example embodiment based on the foregoing example embodiment 500, beam node 510 includes a pair of beam nodes respectively defined at the near and far ends of beam element model 505, for example... Figure 1 Beam nodes 110a and 110b. In this non-limiting example embodiment, such as Figure 1 The beam edge 108a is defined within the beam element model 505, between the body and beam nodes. To continue, the material of the component represented by the beam element model 505 is defined. Therefore, according to this example embodiment, the beam element model 505 is created based on information including the length, orientation, and material of the beam elements.

[0049] In another alternative embodiment based on the foregoing example embodiment 500, a beam element model 505 representing a first component of a real-world object is created. In the example embodiment, a finite element model of a second component of the real-world object is received. To proceed, a computer-based simulation is performed using the created beam element model 505 of the first component, the corresponding established mesh 525, and the received finite element model of the second component to determine the contact behavior of the real-world object 535. This simulation determines the contact behavior of the first component in response to contact with the second component. In the simulation, the motion of the mesh 525 is constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam nodes 510.

[0050] Figure 6A -C illustrates representations 600a, 600b, and 600c of exemplary beam element models 605a, 605b, and 605c with various example cross-sectional geometries 620a, 620b, and 620c, respectively. Beam element models 605a, 605b, and 605c can be created at step 505 of method 500 and are used to determine the contact behavior at step 535 of method 500. Exemplary cross-sectional geometries 620a, 620b, and 620c illustrate fillets with different rounding amounts. These will be described below. Figure 7 Will use something like Figure 6B The cross-sectional geometry of 620b provides further context.

[0051] Figure 6A Contact nodes 614a-1, 614a-2, 614a-3, and 614a-4 are shown. Contact nodes 614a-1 to 614a-4 are connected by contact edges 617a-1, 617a-2, 617a-3, and 617a-4, where contact edge 617a-1 connects contact nodes 614a-1 and 614a-2, contact edge 617a-2 connects contact nodes 614a-2 and 614a-3, contact edge 617a-3 connects contact nodes 614a-3 and 614a-4, and contact edge 617a-4 connects contact nodes 614a-4 and 614a-1. Further context regarding contact edges 617a-1 to 617a-4 is provided below; see references... Figure 7 The proximal contact edges 717-1 to 717-4 and the distal contact edges 716-1 to 716-4 are shown. Contact nodes 614a-1 to 614a-4, interconnected by contact edges 617a-1 to 617a-4, define a rectangular region that directly corresponds to a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 620a centered on beam node 610a.

[0052] Figure 6BContact nodes 614b-1, 614b-2, 614b-3, and 614b-4 are shown. Contact nodes 614b-1 to 614b-4 are connected by contact edges 617b-1, 617b-2, 617b-3, and 617b-4, where contact edge 617b-1 connects contact nodes 614b-1 and 614b-2, contact edge 617b-2 connects contact nodes 614b-2 and 614b-3, contact edge 617b-3 connects contact nodes 614b-3 and 614b-4, and contact edge 617b-4 connects contact nodes 614b-4 and 614b-1. Further context regarding contact edges 617b-1 to 617b-4 is provided below; see references... Figure 7 The proximal contact edges 717-1 to 717-4 and the distal contact edges 716-1 to 716-4 are shown. Contact nodes 614b-1 to 614b-4, interconnected by contact edges 617b-1 to 617b-4, define a rectangular region, as shown... Figure 6B The area within the dashed line is shown. It also includes fillet radius parameters applied centered on contact nodes 614b-1 to 614b-4. The rectangular area shown within the dashed line, when combined with the applied fillet radius parameters, forms a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 620b with rounded corners, centered on beam node 610b. The fillet radius parameters can be used, as described, to assign surface thickness dimensions to the beam element model 605b.

[0053] Figure 6C Contact nodes 614c-1, 614c-2, 614c-3, and 614c-4 are shown. Contact nodes 614c-1 to 614c-4 are connected by contact edges 617c-1, 617c-2, 617c-3, and 617c-4, where contact edge 617c-1 connects contact nodes 614c-1 and 614c-2, contact edge 617c-2 connects contact nodes 614c-2 and 614c-3, contact edge 617c-3 connects contact nodes 614c-3 and 614c-4, and contact edge 617c-4 connects contact nodes 614c-4 and 614c-1. Further context regarding contact edges 617c-1 to 617c-4 is provided below; see references... Figure 7 The proximal contact edges 717-1 to 717-4 and the distal contact edges 716-1 to 716-4 are shown. Contact nodes 614c-1 to 614c-4, interconnected by contact edges 617c-1 to 617c-4, define a rectangular region, as shown... Figure 6C The area within the dashed line is shown. It also includes the fillet radius parameter applied centered on contact nodes 614c-1, 614c-2, 614c-3, and 614c-4, which is greater than... Figure 6BThe fillet radius parameter. The rectangular area shown within the dashed line, when combined with the applied fillet radius parameter, forms a rectangular cross-sectional geometry 620c with rounded corners, centered on beam node 610c, where the fillet radius is greater than... Figure 6B The fillet radius parameter can be used, as described, to assign surface thickness dimensions to beam element model 605c. Figure 6B Compared to the fillet radius parameter, Figure 6C The larger fillet radius parameter therefore to Figure 6C Give ratio Figure 6B A larger surface thickness dimension.

[0054] Figure 7 The demonstration is shown Figure 6B The example beam element model 705 with moderately rounded corners is represented by 700. Figure 7 In the beam element model 705, fillets are incorporated into elements with surface thickness. The beam element model 705 is constructed based on near-end beam nodes 711 and far-end beam nodes 709 located away from near-end beam nodes 711. Near-end contact nodes 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, 714-4 and far-end contact nodes 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, 713-4 are shown at the corresponding longitudinal ends.

[0055] The contact edges, specifically the longitudinal contact edges 718-1, 718-2, 718-3, and 718-4, can be seen in... Figure 7 In this context, they connect the corresponding proximal contact nodes 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, 714-4 and the distal contact nodes 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, 713-4, respectively. Additionally, 700 includes further contact edges, specifically proximal contact edges 717-1, 717-2, 717-3, and 717-4 connecting the proximal contact nodes 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, and 714-4. Specifically, contact edge 717-1 connects contact nodes 714-1 and 714-2, contact edge 717-2 connects contact nodes 714-2 and 714-3, contact edge 717-3 connects contact nodes 714-3 and 714-4, and contact edge 717-4 connects contact nodes 714-4 and 714-1. Similarly, 700 includes additional contact edges, specifically the distal contact edges 716-1, 716-2, 716-3, and 716-4 connecting the distal contact nodes 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, and 713-4. Contact edge 716-1 connects contact nodes 713-1 and 713-2, contact edge 716-2 connects contact nodes 713-2 and 713-3, contact edge 716-3 connects contact nodes 713-3 and 713-4, and contact edge 716-4 connects contact nodes 713-4 and 713-1.

[0056] The contact surfaces, specifically the longitudinal contact surfaces 722-1, 722-2, 722-3, and 722-4, are... Figure 7 The diagram shows the formation between the sets of contact nodes and edges, as follows: {face 722-1 is formed by nodes 714-1, 714-2, 713-2, and 713-1 connected by edges 717-1, 718-2, 716-1, and 718-1}, {face 722-2 is formed by nodes 714-2, 714-3, and 713-1 connected by edges 717-2, 718-3, 716-2, and 718-2}. =-3, 713-2}, {face 722-3 is formed by nodes 714-3, 714-4, 713-4, 713-3 connected by edges 717-3, 718-4, 716-3, 718-3}, while {face 722-4 is formed by nodes 714-4, 714-1, 713-1 and 713-4 connected by edges 717-4, 718-1, 716-4, 718-4}.

[0057] Still Figure 7 As shown in representation 700, coplanar with the corresponding beam nodes 711 and 709 are additional contact surfaces, specifically the proximal contact surface 724 and the distal contact surface 723, drawn according to the user-specified rectangular proximal cross-sectional geometry 720 and distal cross-sectional geometry 719, respectively. The proximal contact surface 724 is formed by nodes 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, and 714-4 connected by edges 717-1, 717-2, 717-3, and 717-4. The distal contact surface 723 is formed by nodes 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, and 713-4 connected by edges 716-1, 716-2, 716-3, and 716-4.

[0058] The contact entity generated according to step 515 of method 500 is shown in representation 700 as including proximal contact nodes 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, 714-4 and distal contact nodes 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, 713-4; longitudinal contact edges 718-1, 718-2, 718-3, 718-4, proximal contact edges 717-1, 717-2, 717-3, 717-4 and distal contact edges 716-1, 716-2, 716-3, 716-4; and longitudinal contact surfaces 722-1, 722-2, 722-3, 722-4, proximal contact surface 724 and distal contact surface 723, all as detailed above.

[0059] Additionally, by including the fillet radius parameter (as referenced above) Figure 6B(As described above), the fillets are incorporated into the cross-sectional geometries 720, 719. The fillet radius parameter specifies the surface thickness of the beam element model 705. Therefore, the contact edges 718-1, 718-2, 718-3, 718-4 do not necessarily represent positions along the surface of the beam element model 705, but rather represent the central axis of a cylinder defined by the fillet radii applied to the cross-sectional geometries 719, 720 and centered on the contact nodes 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, 714-4, 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, 713-4. Thus, a portion of the cylindrical surface can effectively represent at least a portion of the surface of the beam element model 705. According to this disclosure, for example... Figure 3C The mesh 300c can be generated around, for example, the beam element model 705 based on automatically generated contact entities 515, such as contact entities 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, 714-4, 713-1, 713-2, 713-3, 713-4, 718-1, 718-2, 718-3, 718-4, 717-1, 717-2, 717-3, 717-4, 716-1, 716-2, 716-3, 716-4, 722-1, 722-2, 722-3, 722-4, 724, and 723. The motion of the mesh can then be constrained to follow the motion of the beam element model 705 based on the automatically generated contact entities 515, for example, according to... Figure 5 Method 500, step 535.

[0060] Figure 8A Representation 800a of an example beam element model 805a, typically known as an L-beam, is shown, where L-shaped cross-sectional geometries 820a and 819a are specified. Representation 800a is merely one example of a beam model that can be created and modeled using the embodiment, and other example beam types, including but not limited to I-beams and U-beams, can be similarly represented. Beam element model 805a is constructed based on the near-end beam node 811a and far-end beam node 809a shown at the opposite longitudinal ends of beam 805a. At the corresponding longitudinal ends, near-end contact nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 814a-4, 814a-5, 814a-6 and far-end contact nodes 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5, 813a-6 are shown.

[0061] The contact edges, specifically the longitudinal contact edges 818-1, 818-2, 818-3, 818-4, 818-5, and 818-6, can be seen in... Figure 8AIn this context, they connect the corresponding proximal contact nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 814a-4, 814a-5, 814a-6 and the distal contact nodes 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5, 813a-6, respectively. Additionally, 800a indicates that it includes further contact edges, specifically the proximal contact edges 817a-1, 817a-2, 817a-3, 817a-4, 817a-5, and 817a-6 connecting the proximal contact nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 814a-4, 814a-5, and 814a-6. Specifically, contact edge 817a-1 connects to contact nodes 814a-1 and 814a-2, contact edge 817a-2 connects to contact nodes 814a-2 and 814a-3, contact edge 817a-3 connects to contact nodes 814a-3 and 814a-4, contact edge 817a-4 connects to contact nodes 814a-4 and 814a-5, contact edge 817a-5 connects to contact nodes 814a-5 and 814a-6, and contact edge 817a-6 connects to contact nodes 814a-6 and 814a-1. Similarly, 800a indicates that it includes additional contact edges, specifically the distal contact edges 816a-1, 816a-2, 816a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5 and 816a-6 connecting the distal contact nodes 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 816a-5 and 816a-6. Contact edge 816a-1 connects to contact nodes 813a-1 and 813a-2, contact edge 816a-2 connects to contact nodes 813a-2 and 813a-3, contact edge 816a-3 connects to contact nodes 813a-3 and 813a-4, contact edge 816a-4 connects to contact nodes 813a-4 and 813a-5, contact edge 816a-5 connects to contact nodes 813a-5 and 813a-6, and contact edge 816a-6 connects to contact nodes 813a-6 and 813a-1.

[0062] The contact surfaces, specifically the longitudinal contact surfaces 822-1, 822-2, 822-3, 822-4, 822-5, and 822-6, are... Figure 8AThe following diagram illustrates the formation between sets of contact nodes: {face 822-1 is formed by nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 813a-2, and 813a-1 connected by edges 817a-1, 818-2, 816a-1, and 818-1}, {face 822-2 is formed by nodes 814a-2, 814a-3, 813a-3, and 813a-2 connected by edges 817a-2, 818-3, 816a-2, and 818-2}, {face 822-3 is formed by nodes 814a-3, 814a-4, and 813a-4 connected by edges 817a-3, 818-4, 816a-3, and 818-3}. {Formed by 813a-3}, {Formed by nodes 814a-4, 814a-5, 813a-5 and 813a-4 connected by edges 817a-4, 818-5, 816a-4, 818-4}, {Formed by nodes 814a-5, 814a-6, 813a-6, 813a-5 connected by edges 817a-5, 818-6, 816a-5, 818-5}, and {Formed by nodes 814a-6, 814a-1, 813a-1, 813a-6 connected by edges 817a-6, 818-1, 816a-6, 818-6}.

[0063] Still Figure 8A As shown in representation 800a, coplanar with the corresponding beam nodes 811a and 809a are additional contact surfaces, specifically the near-end contact surface 824a and the far-end contact surface 823a, which are drawn according to the user-specified near-end cross-sectional geometry 820a and far-end cross-sectional geometry 819a of the L-beam. The near-end contact surface 824a is formed by nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 817a-4, 817a-5, and 814a-6 connected by edges 817a-1, 817a-2, 817a-3, 817a-4, 817a-5, and 814a-6. The distal contact surface 823a is formed by nodes 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5, and 813a-6 connected by edges 816a-1, 816a-2, 816a-3, 816a-4, 816a-5, and 816a-6.

[0064] Figure 8AExample contact entities that can be generated according to step 515 of method 500 are shown, specifically proximal contact nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 814a-4, 814a-5, 814a-6 and distal contact nodes 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5, 813a-6; longitudinal contact edges 818-1, 818-2, 818-3, 818-4, 818-5, 818- 6. The proximal contact edges 817a-1, 817a-2, 817a-3, 817a-4, 817a-5, 817a-6 and the distal contact edges 816a-1, 816a-2, 816a-3, 816a-4, 816a-5, 816a-6; as well as the longitudinal contact surfaces 822-1, 822-2, 822-3, 822-4, 822-5, 822-6, the proximal contact surface 824a and the distal contact surface 823a, are all detailed above.

[0065] Additionally, by including the fillet radius parameter (as referenced above) Figure 6B and 7 As described, the fillets are incorporated into the cross-sectional geometries 820a and 819a. The fillet radius parameter specifies the surface thickness of the beam element model 805a. Therefore, the contact edges 818-1, 818-2, 818-3, 818-4, 818-5, and 818-6 may not represent the outermost ends of the beam element model 805a, but rather the central axis of a cylinder defined by the fillet radii applied to the cross-sectional geometries 820a and 819a and centered on the contact nodes 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 814a-4, 814a-5, 814a-6, 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5, and 813a-6. Thus, a portion of the cylindrical surface can actually represent at least a portion of the surface of the beam element model 805a. According to this disclosure, for example... Figure 3CThe mesh 300c can be generated based on automatically generated contact entities 515, such as model 805a, for example, beam element models 805a. Other contact entities include 814a-1, 814a-2, 814a-3, 814a-4, 814a-5, 814a-6, 813a-1, 813a-2, 813a-3, 813a-4, 813a-5, 813a-6, 818-1, 818-2, and 818-. 3, 818-4, 818-5, 818-6, 817a-1, 817a-2, 817a-3, 817a-4, 817a-5, 817a-6, 816a-1, 816a-2, 816a-3, 816a-4, 816a-5, 816a-6, 822-1, 822-2, 822-3, 822-4, 822-5, 822-6, 824a, 823a. The motion of the mesh can then be constrained to follow the motion of the beam element model 805a based on the automatically generated contact entity 515, for example, according to... Figure 5 Method 500, step 535.

[0066] Figure 8B It shows the representation Figure 8A The example beam element model 805b of beam element model 805a is manipulated as shown in the representation 800b after undergoing a torsional time. During the simulation, the motion of automatically generated contact entities 814b-1, 814b-2, 814b-3, 814b-4, 814b-5, 814b-6, 813b-1, 813b-2, 813b-3, 813b-4, 813b-5, 813b-6, 817b-1, 817b-2, 817b-3, 817b-4, 817b-5, 817b-6, 816b-1, 816b-2, 816b-3, 816b-4, 816b-5, 816b-6, 824b, and 823b is defined by, for example, the translation and rotation of beam nodes 811b, which have at least relative to... Figure 8A In the view representing 800a, beam node 811a is rotated by a certain amount. The proximal contact surface 824b of beam node 811b is included. Figure 8B The image shows that the beam has been rotated a certain amount around the beam node 811b. Figure 8B The longitudinal contact edge is not shown in order to maintain the visibility of other units in the figure. Figure 8BThe longitudinal contact edges are not explicitly shown. Beam element model 805b is constructed based on the near-end beam node 811b and far-end beam node 809b shown at the opposite longitudinal ends of beam 805b. Near-end contact nodes 814b-1, 814b-2, 814b-3, 814b-4, 814b-5, 814b-6 and far-end contact nodes 813b-1, 813b-2, 813b-3, 813b-4, 813b-5, 813b-6 are shown at the corresponding longitudinal ends.

[0067] This indicates that 800b includes contact edges, specifically the proximal contact edges 817b-1, 817b-2, 817b-3, 814b-4, 814b-5, and 814b-6 connecting proximal contact nodes 814b-1, 814b-2, 814b-3, 814b-4, 817b-5, and 817b-6. Specifically, contact edge 817b-1 connects to contact nodes 814b-1 and 814b-2, contact edge 817b-2 connects to contact nodes 814b-2 and 814b-3, contact edge 817b-3 connects to contact nodes 814b-3 and 814b-4, contact edge 817b-4 connects to contact nodes 814b-4 and 814b-5, contact edge 817b-5 connects to contact nodes 814b-5 and 814b-6, and contact edge 817b-6 connects to contact nodes 814b-6 and 814b-1. Similarly, 800b indicates that it includes additional contact edges, specifically the distal contact edges 816b-1, 816b-2, 816b-3, 813b-4, 813b-5, and 816b-6 connecting the distal contact nodes 813b-1, 813b-2, 813b-3, 813b-4, 816b-5, and 816b-6. Contact edge 816b-1 connects to contact nodes 813b-1 and 813b-2, contact edge 816b-2 connects to contact nodes 813b-2 and 813b-3, contact edge 816b-3 connects to contact nodes 813b-3 and 813b-4, contact edge 816b-4 connects to contact nodes 813b-4 and 813b-5, contact edge 816b-5 connects to contact nodes 813b-5 and 813b-6, and contact edge 816b-6 connects to contact nodes 813b-6 and 813b-1.

[0068] exist Figure 8BThe contact surfaces are drawn according to the user-specified near-end cross-sectional geometry 820b and far-end cross-sectional geometry 819b of the L-beam, specifically the near-end contact surface 824b and the far-end contact surface 823b. The near-end contact surface 824b is formed by nodes 814b-1, 814b-2, 814b-3, 814b-4, 814b-5, and 815b-6 connected by edges 817b-1, 817b-2, 814b-3, 817b-4, 814b-5, and 815b-6. The distal contact surface 823b is formed by nodes 813b-1, 813b-2, 813b-3, 813b-4, 813b-5, and 813b-6 connected by edges 816b-1, 816b-2, 816b-3, 816b-4, 816b-5, and 816b-6.

[0069] The contact entity that can be generated according to step 515 of method 500 is shown in representation 800b. Specifically, Figure 8B The contact entities include proximal contact nodes 814b-1, 814b-2, 814b-3, 814b-4, 814b-5, 814b-6 and distal contact nodes 813b-1, 813b-2, 813b-3, 813b-4, 813b-5, 813b-6; proximal contact edges 817b-1, 817b-2, 817b-3, 817b-4, 817b-5, 817b-6 and distal contact edges 816b-1, 816b-2, 816b-3, 816b-4, 816b-5, 816b-6; and proximal contact surface 824b and distal contact surface 823b, all as detailed above. Figure 8B The longitudinal contact edges 818-1, 818-2, 818-3, 818-4, 818-5, and 818-6, and the longitudinal contact surfaces 822-1, 822-2, 822-3, 822-4, 822-5, and 822-6 are not shown.

[0070] Figure 9 An example CAD model 900 is shown, which includes a separate first beam element model 905 and a second beam element model 906. Figure 9 Each beam element model 905, 906 is shown to have multiple connecting parts (parts) defined by the orientation of a number of distinct beam elements depicted within each beam element model 905, 906. Figure 9 The example of a modeled rectangular entity 907 is also shown. Any feature is that entities of any shape that a person skilled in the art would not consider to be beam elements can be modeled in this way for the simulation of contact events with beam elements. Figure 9The text also depicts the contact point 956 between the first beam element model 905 and the second beam element model 906, two contact points 957-1 and 957-2 between the first beam element model 905 and the rectangular solid 907, and the contact point 967 between the second beam element model 906 and the rectangular solid 907.

[0071] The embodiments described herein can be used to model and simulate the behavior of beams 905 and 906. In the embodiments, contact entities are automatically generated using the embodiments described herein for portions of beams 905 and 906 that may interact with each other or with other objects or entities. In other words, the embodiments can be used to model and simulate portions of beams 905 and 906 involved in contact points 956, 957-1, 957-2, and 967. Alternatively, the embodiments may utilize the methods described herein, such as method 500, to model and simulate portions of beams 905 and 906 involved in contact points 956, 957-1, 957-2, and 967, while using existing methods for portions of beams 905 and 906 not involved in the contact points.

[0072] For example, Figure 9 In the upper left corner, beam element 902 of beam element model 905 is not in close contact with other objects or beam element models. The example implementation identifies such areas (typically evolving during simulation) and allows simulation to be performed where portion 902 of beam element model 905 is modeled using existing methods (where contact entities are not automatically generated), and the remaining portions of beam element model 905 are modeled using the methods described herein. In this way, the embodiment improves computational performance and allows simulations to be performed to determine contact behavior that bypasses calculations related to more detailed surface representations in areas not addressed in the contact points (contact points 956, 957-1, 957-2, and 967).

[0073] As illustrated in the foregoing various non-limiting examples, for the purpose of simulating the behavior of the modeled object, the automatically generated contact entities in the embodiments define or otherwise logically serve as possible contact points on the model. Such defined contact points improve the accuracy of simulations that have not been achieved to date in the art.

[0074] Figure 10A An example CAD model 1000a is shown, which includes a pair of tweezers 1007, each comprising beam segments modeled by beam element models 1005a-1 and 1005a-2, such as the tip segments of the tweezers. Example model 1000a also includes a single beam represented by beam element model 1006a. Embodiments of the invention can be used to simulate the contact between the tips of the tweezers 1007, represented by models 1005a-1 and 1005a-2, and the beam element model 1006a.

[0075] Figure 10B It shows Figure 10A Another view 1000b of the example CAD model 1000a shows the display of the model configured with scaling settings to show the junction areas 1056-1, 1056-2 between the corresponding beam element models 1005b-1, 1005b-2 of the tweezers tip and the beam element model 1006b of the single beam. Figure 10B As can be seen in the figure, the beam element model 1006b of the single beam incorporates a hexagonal cross-sectional geometry 1020. Assume that the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 of the tweezers tip have rectangular cross-sectional geometries. This cross-sectional geometry is not explicitly and fully shown in the figure, but given the viewing angle 1000b, the cross-sectional geometry can be inferred from the obvious right angles between adjacent surfaces of the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 of the tweezers tip.

[0076] Models 1000a and 1000b illustrate the advantages and benefits of the embodiments. To illustrate this, it is assumed that a single beam element model 1006b is configured to rotate about an axis at the center of its cross-sectional area and perpendicular to its cross-sectional plane, while beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tips are configured to compress each other toward and eventually contact the single beam element model 1006b. In this configuration, the tweezers tips can be understood as clamping the ends of the single beam element. It will be anticipated that the movement of the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tips will deflect when at least a first vertex of the hexagonal cross-sectional geometry 1020 of the single beam element contacts the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tips during the rotation of the single beam element model 1006b. Assuming sufficient spring resistance is incorporated into the tweezers 1007 of the example model to keep the single beam element clamped between the tweezers tips, it is expected that the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tips will exhibit an impact effect as the single beam element model 1006b continues to rotate and the vertices of the hexagonal cross-sectional geometry 1020 pass between the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tips.

[0077] Figure 10B It is evident that if existing methods are used to simulate contact events involving the hexagonal cross-sectional geometry 1020 of the single beam element model 1006b, where all beams are considered to have circular cross-sectional areas, such simulations will be unable to predict any significant amount of motion deflection or impact in the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tip when the single beam element model 1006b rotates between the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tip.

[0078] Furthermore, if, as assumed above, the cross-sectional geometry of the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tip is rectangular, then the beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 at the tweezers tip will also be considered to have a circular cross-sectional area in contact simulations implemented using existing methods. Existing methods enlarge the considered cross-sectional area by establishing a circular cross-section for contact calculations by surrounding a circular region with a rectangular cross-section of each beam element model 1005b-1 and 1005b-2. Therefore, using existing methods, contact simulations involving beam element models 1005b-1 and 1005b-2 will identify contact events that do not physically occur. In other words, using existing methods, the junction regions 1056-1 and 1056-2 are artificially enlarged, leading to inaccurate simulations. Therefore, the method and system described herein, by considering the true cross-sectional geometry of the beam element models involved, support contact simulations with improved accuracy compared to those implemented using existing methods.

[0079] Structural simulations of dynamic events with central difference time integrals require very small time increments or step sizes, typically at least 100,000. Simulations often involve, for example, approximately ten million contact nodes, edges, and faces. The claimed methods, systems, and products provide reasonable simulation runtimes by enabling efficient determination of which combinations of contact entities are actively contacting and what contact forces should be generated at each increment or step. The claimed methods, systems, and products endow each contact entity with properties that promote efficient and parallelizable processes. For example, the claimed methods, systems, and products keep the total number of contact entity types small so that code development and maintenance can focus on a few types of entity combinations.

[0080] Figure 11 A computer network or similar digital processing environment in which embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented is shown.

[0081] Client computer / device 50 and server computer 60 provide processing, storage, and input / output means for executing applications, etc. Client computer / device 50 can also be linked to other computing devices, including other client devices / processors 50 and server computer 60, via communication network 70. Communication network 70 can be part of a remote access network, a global network (e.g., the Internet), a worldwide collection of computers, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), and a gateway that currently communicates with each other using appropriate protocols (TCP / IP, Bluetooth®, etc.). Other electronic device / computer network architectures are suitable.

[0082] Figure 12 yes Figure 11This is an example internal structure diagram of a computer (e.g., client processor / device 50 or server computer 60) in a computer system. Each computer 50, 60 includes a system bus 79, where a bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transfer between components of a computer or processing system. The system bus 79 is essentially a shared channel that connects different components of the computer system (e.g., processor, disk storage device, memory, input / output ports, network ports, etc.) to enable the transfer of information between components. An I / O device interface 82 is attached to the system bus 79 to connect various input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, speakers, etc.) to the computer 50, 60. A network interface 86 allows the computer to connect to networks (e.g., ...). Figure 11 The network 70) is connected to various other devices. The memory 90 contains computer software instructions 92 (in Figure 12 The diagram illustrates volatile storage for computer software instructions 92A and 92B and data 94 used to implement embodiments of the present disclosure, such as the method 500 discussed above and support for a graphical user interface. A disk storage device 95 provides non-volatile storage for the computer software instructions 92 and data 94 used to implement embodiments of the present disclosure. A central processing unit 84 is also attached to the system bus 79 and provides execution of computer instructions.

[0083] In one embodiment, processor routine 92 and data 94 are computer program products (generally referred to as 92) comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a removable storage medium, such as one or more DVD-ROMs, CD-ROMs, disks, magnetic tapes, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the software instructions for the embodiments. Computer program product 92 can be installed via any suitable software installer, as is well known in the art. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the software instructions can also be downloaded via cable communication and / or wireless connection. In other embodiments, processor routine 92 and data 94 are signal products embodied in a signal propagated on a propagation medium (e.g., radio waves, infrared waves, laser waves, sound waves, or radio waves propagating through a global network such as the Internet or other networks). This carrier medium or signal can be used to provide at least a portion of the software instructions for the processor routine / program 92 and data 94 of the present invention.

[0084] The advantages offered by the claimed methods, systems, and products include more accurate modeling of contact events involving beam elements, at least in part due to the determination of the computer-implemented contact entities of the CAD beam element model. Having an outer surface representation of the beam geometry generated by software specifically for modeling the effects of contact events helps ensure that the resulting surface representation is well-suited for contact simulations regarding performance, robustness, accuracy, and maintainability. Given the inherent complexity of many real-world objects modeled in software, and due to common constraints such as implementation time and cost, as well as the significant possibility of human error, it is generally not recommended that users manually construct similar outer surface representations within CAD software. The claimed methods, systems, and products effectively eliminate such inhibitory factors and the possibility of human error, thereby allowing users to realize and utilize benefits that have been impractical or impossible in real-world product design environments to date.

[0085] Furthermore, the correlation between the original beam representation and the automatically generated detailed outer surface representation can help optimize performance. Based on a coarse screening method, when determining that the parent beam element may involve contact, only the automatically generated contact entities in specific regions need to be considered.

[0086] Although exemplary embodiments have been specifically shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the embodiments as covered by the appended claims. For example, embodiments may alter the order in which operations are performed. Furthermore, depending on the needs of the embodiment, specific operations described herein may be implemented as combined operations, may be canceled, added to, or otherwise rearranged. Additionally, specific user interface operations relative to the mouse ( For example Click, drag, drop wait This is illustrative, not restrictive. It is used for selecting, moving, and placing model or design data. wait Other user interface operations are appropriate.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining the contact behavior of real-world objects, the method comprising: Create a beam element model in memory that represents components of a real-world object, the beam element model including beam nodes; Contact entities are automatically generated based on the cross-sectional geometry of the components of the real-world object described in (1) and the beam element model created in (2); A mesh is created based on the generated contact entities, the mesh representing the surface geometry of the component of the real-world object; as well as The contact behavior of the real-world object is determined by performing a computer-based simulation using the beam element model and the established mesh, wherein the motion of the mesh is constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam nodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated contact entity comprises contact nodes of the beam element model, and wherein, when creating the mesh, the method includes: Connect the contact nodes to establish the mesh.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein connecting the contact node comprises: The contact nodes are connected by an inlay pattern.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically generating the contact entity includes setting the position of the contact node based on the cross-sectional geometry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the mesh comprises: Connect the contact entity generated based on the first cross-sectional geometry to the corresponding contact entity generated based on the second cross-sectional geometry.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user instruction in the form of a keyword for the cross-sectional geometry.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: A drop-down menu is provided that displays multiple keywords or their representations, wherein the user instruction for the cross-sectional geometry is received by the user selecting one of the multiple keywords from the drop-down menu.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam node comprises a pair of beam nodes, and wherein creating the beam element model comprises: Define the edge between the pair of beam nodes; as well as The material of the beam is defined.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the real-world object is a first component, and determining the contact behavior of the real-world object comprises: Receive the finite element model of the second component; as well as Simulations are performed using the beam element model, the established mesh, and the received finite element model of the second component to determine the contact behavior of the real-world object in response to contact with the second component.

10. A computer-aided design (CAD) system for determining the contact behavior of real-world objects, the system comprising: processor; as well as A memory storing computer code instructions is thereon, and the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are configured to cause the system to: A beam element model representing components of a real-world object is created in the memory, the beam element model including beam nodes; Contact entities are automatically generated based on the cross-sectional geometry of the components of the real-world object and the created beam element model; A mesh is created based on the generated contact entities, the mesh representing the surface geometry of the component of the real-world object; and The contact behavior of the real-world object is determined by performing a computer-based simulation using the beam element model and the established mesh, wherein the motion of the mesh is constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam nodes.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the contact entity comprises contact nodes of the beam element model, and during mesh creation, the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: Instantiate the connections between the contact nodes to establish the mesh.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, during the automatic generation of contact entities, the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: The position of the contact node is set based on the cross-sectional geometry.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein, during the establishment of the grid, the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: The generated contact entity with a first cross-sectional geometry is connected to the corresponding generated contact entity with a second cross-sectional geometry.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein, during the establishment of the grid, the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: The grid is inlaid in a pattern between the first cross-sectional geometry and the second cross-sectional geometry.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: Receive user instructions for the cross-sectional geometry in keyword form.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising: A graphical display device configured to provide a drop-down menu, the drop-down menu containing keywords or representations thereof; and The processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to enable the system to receive a user instruction on the cross-sectional geometry by means of a user selection from the drop-down menu.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the beam node comprises a pair of beam nodes, and wherein, when creating the beam element model, the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: Defining the edge between the pair of beam nodes; and The material of the beam is defined.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the component of the real-world object is a first component, and when determining the contact behavior of the real-world object, the processor and the memory having the computer code instructions are further configured to cause the system to: Receive the finite element model of the second component; and Simulations are performed using the beam element model, the established mesh, and the received finite element model of the second component to determine the contact behavior of the real-world object in response to contact with the second component.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a computer program product for determining contact behavior of real-world objects, the computer program product comprising: Computer-readable program instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: Create a beam element model in the database that represents components of real-world objects, the beam element model including beam nodes; Contact entities are automatically generated based on the cross-sectional geometry of the components of the real-world object and the created beam element model; A mesh is created based on the generated contact entities, the mesh representing the surface geometry of the component of the real-world object; and The contact behavior of the real-world object is determined by performing a computer-based simulation using the beam element model and the established mesh, wherein the motion of the mesh is constrained to correspond to the motion of the beam nodes.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the processor (1) to automatically generate contact entities by setting the positions of contact nodes of the beam element model based on the cross-sectional geometry, and (2) to establish the mesh by instantiating the connections between the contact nodes.

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