Material Selection Under Manufacturing and Use Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack an efficient and objective method for selecting materials that meet specific design and manufacturing constraints, making material selection for product design a complex and often infeasible task for designers.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that classifies materials based on their compatibility with use and manufacturing constraints, using Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding sorting models to determine an optimal subset of materials for manufacturing products, considering both performance-driven and economic-driven criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional manual material selection methods are used, then designers can exercise subjective judgment, but the process becomes complex and often infeasible for products with multiple constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial selection processVSAvoidselection methodology
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual, subjective material selection with an automated computer-implemented system that uses Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding algorithms. The system automatically classifies materials by computing compatibility scores based on weighted criteria, eliminating the need for complex manual evaluation while maintaining objective decision-making through mathematical modeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the material selection process by changing from qualitative subjective judgment to quantitative objective evaluation. It introduces numerical parameters including compatibility scores, criterion weights, and constraint satisfaction levels, allowing the system to process multiple constraints simultaneously through computational algorithms rather than manual assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive material evaluation considering multiple criteria is performed, then selection accuracy improves, but computational complexity and time requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial compatibility assessmentVSAvoidselection process duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary classification of materials by evaluating them against all specified criteria and constraints before final selection. The system pre-computes compatibility scores for each material-criteria pair, organizing the evaluation results in advance to facilitate rapid final decision-making without requiring time-consuming iterative analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates simplified representations of material properties and constraints through structured data models and compatibility scoring systems. By copying and processing standardized material data against predefined criteria templates, the system achieves comprehensive evaluation efficiency without requiring analysis of every possible material attribute in detail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4312152B1Material selection for designing a manufacturing product
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 DASSAULT SYSTEMES SA
  • EP4312152B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4312152B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4312152B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The disclosure notably relates to a computer-implemented method for designing a manufacturing product. The method comprises providing a set of materials for manufacturing the product. The method further comprises providing a set of use and/or manufacturing constraints for the manufacturing product. The method further comprises providing specifications indicating an extent of compatibility of one or more reference materials with the constraints. The method further comprises determining an optimal subset of the set of materials for manufacturing the product. The determining includes classifying the materials with respect to compatibility with the constraints and based on the provided specifications. This constitutes an improved method for designing a manufacturing product.