Analysis Error Detection for a CAD Model

• US 20080027968A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Ingersoll, Gregory P., Kfouri, Emile E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/23 using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying an analytical representation of a plurality of physical elements in a computer aided design (CAD) model, the analytical representation comprising a plurality of analytical elements. one or more of the plurality of analytical elements corresponds to one or more of the plurality physical elements. An association is identified between corresponding analytical and physical elements such that a modification to one element can be applied to modify a corresponding other. An error is automatically detected in the analytical representation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying an analytical representation of a plurality of physical elements in a computer aided design (CAD) model, the analytical representation comprising a plurality of analytical elements, one or more of the plurality of analytical elements corresponding to one or more of the plurality physical elements;

identifying an association between corresponding analytical and physical elements such that a modification to one element can be applied to modify a corresponding other; and

automatically detecting an error in the analytical representation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, where:

automatically detecting based on a comparison of an analytical element in the plurality of analytical elements to a corresponding physical element in the plurality of physical elements.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a user of the error through a user interface.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, where:

automatically detecting is in response to user input modifying the CAD model or the analytical representation.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, where:

automatically detecting is in response to the identification of an association between corresponding analytical and physical elements.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, where

the error is one of:

a support distance error, an analytical element to a physical element distance error, an analytical adjustment distance error, a circular reference error, a zero member volume error, or a release condition error.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

performing a structural analysis of the analytical representation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving user input first modifying a physical element or an analytical element;

and modifying a corresponding other to reflect the first modification.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, where:

the error is caused by a user moving an analytical element away from a corresponding physical element.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying an analytical representation of a plurality of physical elements in a computer aided design (CAD) model, the analytical representation comprising a plurality of analytical elements, one or more of the plurality of analytical elements corresponding to one or more of the plurality of physical elements;

receiving user input modifying a physical element in the plurality of physical elements or an analytical element in the plurality of analytical elements; and

modifying a corresponding other to reflect the first modification; and

in response to the user input, automatically detecting an error in the analytical representation.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, where:

the user input changes a location of an analytical element in the plurality of analytical elements or a physical element in the plurality of physical elements.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if the location of the moved element is within a distance tolerance.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if a circular reference exists in the analytical representation.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if an analytical element has zero length.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if instabilities exist in the analytical representation.

16. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

identifying an analytical representation of a plurality of physical elements in a computer aided design (CAD) model, the analytical representation comprising a plurality of analytical elements, one or more of the plurality of analytical elements corresponding to one or more of the plurality physical elements;

identifying an association between corresponding analytical and physical elements such that a modification to one element can be applied to modify a corresponding other; and

automatically detecting an error in the analytical representation.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, where:

automatically detecting is based on a comparison of an analytical element in the plurality of analytical elements to a corresponding physical element in the plurality of physical elements.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, where:

automatically detecting is in response to user input modifying the CAD model or the analytical representation.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, where:

the error is one of;

a support distance error, an analytical element to a physical element distance error, an analytical adjustment distance error, a circular reference error, a zero member volume error, or a release condition error.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, where:

the error is caused by a user moving an analytical element away from a corresponding physical element.