COLLABORATIVE METHOD FOR DESIGNING AND DIMENSIONING AN OBJECT USING FINITE ELEMENTS

Abstract

COLLABORATIVE METHOD FOR FINITE ELEMENT DESIGN AND DIMENSIONING OF AN OBJECT The invention relates to a computer-aided method for dimensioning an object, said object being physical, the method comprising the following steps: a) discretization of the object by means of a mesh; b) application of at least one stress simulation (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) of the discretized object, said stress simulation resulting in a modification of the discretized object; c) approval of the modification of the discretized object; and d) updating the discretized object with the approved modification of the discretized object, the updated discretized object comprising an update identifier and being stored on a data storage space (6) accessible by a plurality of users. (Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: COLLABORATIVE METHOD FOR DESIGNING AND DIMENSIONING AN OBJECT USING FINITE ELEMENTS technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of computer design and dimensioning of a physical object, such as a component of a device, for example a motor vehicle body structure or a component of such a structure. Previous technique

[0002] US patent document 10,930,067 B2 discloses a computer-aided design, dimensioning, and manufacturing tool for objects, specifically designed to allow users to input instructions in the form of object-oriented text. These user inputs include instructions for simulating the object. The tool tracks these inputs so that the associated data has an identifying code. This tool includes a computer-aided design system and a finite element analysis system. It is primarily intended to facilitate the use of a collaborative platform in the manufacturing sector, such as those commonly used in software development.

[0003] Although this tool represents technological advancements, improvements, particularly in user collaboration, remain desirable. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More specifically, the invention aims to facilitate collaboration between users in the context of computer-aided design and dimensioning of objects.

[0005] The invention relates to a computer-based method for dimensioning an object, said object being physical, the method comprising the following steps: a) discretization of the object by means of a mesh; b) application of at least one stress simulation of the discretized object, said stress simulation resulting in a modification of the discretized object; notable in that the method further comprises: c) approval of the modification of the discretized object; and d) updating of the discretized object with the approved modification of the discretized object, the updated discretized object comprising an identifier of the update and being stored on a data storage space accessible by a plurality of users.

[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, step a) is carried out collaboratively by several users from the plurality of users.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in step a), each of the several users discretizes a specific component or subsystem of the object.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, step a) includes a synchronization of the discretized components or subsystems with the discretized object on the data storage space.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, step b) is carried out collaboratively by several users from the plurality of users.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in step b), each of the several users performs a specific constraint simulation of the discretized object, resulting in a specific modification of the discretized object.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, step d) includes a compatibility check before updating the discretized object with the approved modification of the discretized object.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the object is an element of a motor vehicle, such as a bodywork or structural element of the motor vehicle.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one stress simulation in step b) is selected from a stiffness simulation, a vibration simulation and a shock deformation simulation.

[0014] The invention also relates to a computer network comprising several computers configured to execute, each, at least one software for discretizing an object by mesh, and / or at least one software for stress simulation of a discretized object; and a data storage space accessible by each of the several computers; remarkable in that the computers and the data storage space are configured to execute the process according to the invention.

[0015] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that they allow to retain, integrate and reuse all the modifications resulting from the stress simulation operations of a given object. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of a computer dimensioning method for an object, according to the invention. Detailed description

[0017] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a computer-based dimensioning method for an object and a corresponding computer network, according to the invention.

[0018] By object dimensioning process, we mean the dimensioning and possibly the prior design of a physical object, such as a component or subset of a device, such as in particular a vehicle body structure or a component or subset of such a structure.

[0019] The object dimensioning process, according to the invention, is based on the use of a main branch common to all participants in the process. This main branch is represented by line 2 in [Fig. 1]. A path along this main branch 2 in the direction of the arrow (from bottom to top following the orientation of [Fig. 1]) corresponds to a temporal evolution of the object dimensioning process, it being understood, however, that this path can be iterated, particularly depending on new object development projects, for example, subject to new constraints.

[0020] The object sizing process includes a step a) of object discretization. This discretization is performed by dividing the object, advantageously previously modeled by computer, into a series of smaller volumes, forming finite elements and resulting in a mesh. This discretization operation can be performed collaboratively, that is, by several users 4, each working on a workstation or computer, all connected to a data storage space 6 common to the sizing project. For example, each of the users 4 can perform the discretization of a specific subset or component of the object in question. The discretization data generated by each of these users 4 is then synchronized 8 with the data storage space 6.These synchronizations can be initiated manually by each of the four users when they deem the discretization operation to have reached a sufficient level of maturity. To this end, each discretization performed by the users can be assigned a version identifier. These discretizations can be carried out using commercially available and well-known software, such as Abaqus®, Nastran®, and Ansa®.

[0021] The object dimensioning process then includes a step b) of applying at least one stress simulation of the discretized object, said stress simulation resulting in a modification of the discretized object. These stress simulations are represented by three vertical lines 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 in [Fig. 1]. They may include, in particular, a stiffness stress simulation 10.3 of the object, a deformation simulation 10.2 of the object following an impact, and a vibration, noise, and stiffness stress simulation 10.1, such as are commonly applied to automotive body structures. Each of these stress simulations of the object previously discretized in step a) can lead to dimension modifications of the object or of one or more components or subassemblies of said object. For example, the vibration, noise, and stiffness stress simulation 10.Step 1 proves successful and leads to a modification of the object.

[0022] The object dimensioning process then includes a step c) of approving the modification of the discretized object, in this case to the stress simulation in vibration, noise and stiffness 10.1.

[0023] The object sizing process then includes a step d) of updating the discretized object with the approved modification of the discretized object. The updated discretized object includes an update identifier and is stored in the data storage space 6 accessible by multiple users. This is the data storage space 6 of the object discretization step a).

[0024] The object dimensioning method described above thus makes it possible to store, in a structured and reusable manner, the modifications resulting from the various stress simulation operations. The method of the invention is therefore particularly collaborative in that the contribution of each user is stored in the common data storage space, integrated into the object and identified by a version identifier.

Claims

Demands

1. A computer-based method for sizing an object, said object being physical, the method comprising the following steps: a) discretizing the object by means of a mesh; b) applying at least one stress simulation (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) of the discretized object, said stress simulation resulting in a modification of the discretized object; characterized in that the method further comprises: c) approving the modification of the discretized object; and d) updating the discretized object with the approved modification of the discretized object, the updated discretized object comprising an update identifier and being stored on a data storage space (6) accessible by a plurality of users.

2. A computer-based object dimensioning method according to claim 1, wherein step a) is carried out collaboratively by several users (4) of the plurality of users.

3. A computer-based object dimensioning method according to claim 2, wherein, in step a), each of the several users (4) discretizes a specific component or subsystem of the object.

4. A computer-based object dimensioning method according to claim 3, wherein step a) includes a synchronization (8) of the discretized components or subsystems with the discretized object on the data storage space (6).

5. A method for computer dimensioning an object, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein step b) is carried out collaboratively by several users from the plurality of users.

6. A computer-based object dimensioning method according to claim 5, wherein, in step b), each of the several users performs a specific stress simulation (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) of the discretized object, resulting in a specific modification of the discretized object.

7. A method for computer-aided dimensioning of an object, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein step d) comprises a compatibility check before updating the discretized object with the approved modification of the discretized object.

8. A computer-based method for dimensioning an object according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the object is a motor vehicle component, such as a bodywork or structural component of the motor vehicle.

9. A computer-based dimensioning method for an object according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one stress simulation in step b) is selected from a stiffness simulation (10.3), a vibration simulation (10.1) and a shock deformation simulation (10.2).

10. A computer network comprising: - several computers configured to run, each, at least one software for discretizing an object by mesh, and / or at least one software for stress simulation of a discretized object; - a data storage space (6) accessible by each of the several computers; characterized in that the computers and the storage space are configured to run the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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