Variable Stiffness Insole Design via Pressure Map Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating customized structures to distribute pressure evenly across the human body, such as shoe insoles, face challenges in accurately analyzing pressure distribution on three-dimensional surfaces using linear static analysis, which results in poor contact pressure distribution and durability issues with compressible materials.
Innovation Solution
A technique for generating variable stiffness structures based on personal pressure maps, using non-linear static simulation to determine stiffness attributes for different portions of the structure, allowing for customized designs that distribute pressure evenly across the body by varying stiffness attributes across multiple points on the interface surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If compressible materials like foam are used to distribute contact forces over larger areas, then user comfort is improved, but durability deteriorates as materials lose elasticity and ability to distribute forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the material by varying the thickness of the insole at different locations. Instead of using compressible materials that lose their properties over time, the solution uses thickness variation in a durable material to achieve force distribution, thereby maintaining both comfort and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different thicknesses in the insole corresponding to different pressure zones on the foot. High-pressure areas receive thicker portions for better force distribution, while low-pressure areas have thinner portions, optimizing both comfort and durability locally across the insole surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If non-linear static analysis is used to accurately determine pressure distribution and target displacements across the three-dimensional surface, then manufacturing precision is improved, but computational complexity increases making the solution infeasible within realistic time frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential design parameters (thickness values at different locations) from the complex non-linear analysis by using simplified linear static analysis to determine target displacements. This extraction approach captures the necessary information for manufacturing without requiring computationally intensive non-linear simulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the insole design into discrete regions with specific thickness targets. By dividing the continuous three-dimensional surface into manageable zones with defined displacement requirements, the complex global optimization problem is broken down into simpler local problems that can be solved using linear analysis.
3Productivity
If linear static analysis is used to reduce computational complexity, then computational time is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates because linear static simulation cannot support multi-target optimization with different target displacements for each finite element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by using linear static analysis to pre-determine target displacements for different regions based on expected pressure distributions. These pre-calculated displacement targets are then used to guide the insole thickness design, enabling efficient computation while maintaining the capability to achieve accurate pressure distribution through subsequent manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of generating one or more variable stiffness structures includes determining a thickness of a first portion of a variable stiffness structure; determining a pressure that is to be applied to a surface of the first portion; selecting a first predetermined value for a stiffness attribute based on the thickness of the first portion and the pressure; and generating a model of at least part of the variable stiffness structure that includes the first portion, wherein the first portion has the predetermined value for the stiffness attribute.