Load Envelope Definition for Structural Analysis Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing multiple load cases in structural design are either time-consuming and resource-intensive or overly conservative, often resulting in inaccurate assessments and unnecessary material usage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for defining a three-dimensional load envelope that efficiently and accurately encompasses multiple load cases by redefining a coordinate system, eliminating non-critical load cases, and defining surface facets using a processor to normalize and identify critical load components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the max-max combination technique is used to reduce the number of load cases, then the time and computing resources required for analysis are significantly reduced, but the results become too conservative, resulting in unnecessary increases in structure weight and material cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous space of load cases into discrete surface facets (triangles). By dividing the load envelope surface into manageable triangular elements, the system can efficiently sample and evaluate critical load cases without analyzing every possible combination, thus improving productivity while maintaining accuracy through strategic selection of representative points on each facet.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the load case analysis by changing the parameter representation from individual load components to a normalized coordinate system on the load envelope surface. This parameter transformation allows the system to identify and analyze only the critical load cases that define the envelope boundaries, avoiding overly conservative max-max combinations while ensuring all critical scenarios are captured.
2Reliability
If all load cases are analyzed to ensure accurate structural design, then the accuracy and reliability of the analysis is improved, but the analysis becomes time-consuming and computationally intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical load cases that define the load envelope surface, eliminating the need to analyze interior load cases that do not govern the structural design. By taking out and focusing solely on the surface-defining load cases, the system maintains structural safety reliability while dramatically reducing analysis time and computational resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the analysis from the original multi-dimensional load component space to a normalized three-dimensional coordinate system representing the load envelope. This dimensional transformation allows the system to identify critical load cases on the envelope surface more efficiently, reducing the computational burden while ensuring all critical scenarios are captured for reliable structural design.
3Ease of manufacture
If the load envelope is defined using a regular coordinate system, then the implementation is straightforward, but the coordinate system may not be optimally aligned with the distribution of load cases, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an asymmetric, rotated coordinate system that is optimally aligned with the distribution of load cases rather than using a regular aligned coordinate system. This asymmetric transformation improves processing efficiency by better capturing the load case distribution patterns, while the systematic approach to coordinate transformation maintains reasonable implementation simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium are provided for defining a load envelope, such as a three-dimensional load envelope, that envelopes a plurality of load cases. In the context of a system, the system includes a coordinate system redefinition module configured to define three mutually orthogonal axes in a space representative of at least three load components and a surface facet definition module configured to identify load cases on a surface of the load envelope and to define a plurality of surface facets, such as surface triangles, that collectively define the load envelope. Each surface facet includes a plurality of vertices that are formed by load cases identified to be on the surface of the load envelope.