Triangular Sector Mesh for Bolted Joint FEA
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mesh generation techniques struggle with creating efficient and modifiable meshes for bolted joints with irregular geometry, leading to increased time and resource consumption, especially when small design changes occur, which can delay manufacturing and analysis processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a graph generator to form a two-dimensional model composed of triangular sectors, allowing for the easy modification and analysis of bolted joints with irregular geometry, by identifying primary and secondary points and forming a second graph to generate a mesh suitable for finite element analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If currently available mesh generation techniques are used to generate a mesh for an object with irregular geometry, then the mesh can be generated based on the object geometry, but the mesh becomes irregular and difficult to modify
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mesh into regular polyhedral shapes (such as hexahedrons in 3D or quadrilaterals in 2D) that follow a structured grid pattern. This segmentation allows the mesh to be divided into manageable, uniformly shaped elements that can be easily modified by adjusting grid parameters without requiring complete regeneration, thus resolving the contradiction between generating meshes for irregular geometries and maintaining ease of modification.
2Reliability
If a new mesh is generated to accommodate design changes in the object geometry, then the mesh can represent the updated geometry, but more time and processing resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic mesh system where the grid parameters (such as element size, distribution, and orientation) can be adjusted to adapt to geometry changes without regenerating the entire mesh. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the mesh to reliably represent updated geometries while significantly reducing the time and computational resources required compared to complete mesh regeneration.
3Measurement precision
If the density of the mesh is increased to improve analysis detail, then the level of detail that may be analyzed increases, but the complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by allowing different regions of the mesh to have different element densities and configurations tailored to specific analysis requirements. This enables high measurement precision in critical areas while maintaining lower complexity in less critical regions, thus resolving the contradiction between analysis detail and overall mesh complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for analyzing a joint. The apparatus comprises a graph generator and a model generator. The graph generator forms a first graph based on a plurality of points within a region. The plurality of points represent a plurality of locations relative to a structure for a plurality of fastener devices configured to be installed in the structure to form a joint. The graph generator is configured to identify primary points and secondary points based on the first graph. The graph generator is further configured to form a second graph using the primary points, the secondary points, and the first graph. The model generator is configured to generate a two-dimensional model comprised of triangular sectors using vertices of the second graph. The two-dimensional model is configured for use in forming a mesh for use in performing finite element analysis for the joint.