DETERMINING A DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIPLE LAYERS OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL WITHIN A STRUCTURAL VOLUME
First Claim
1. A method for designing a multilayer structure, the method executed by at least one processor, the at least one processor adapted to carry out process steps comprising:
- receiving design data defining dimensions of the multilayer structure;
receiving parameter data defining at least one layer parameter of at least one layer of multiple layers to form the multilayer structure;
calculating at least one layer transformation guide, the layer transformation guide identifying at least one configuration parameter of the at least one layer disposed at any one of a plurality of locations within the multilayer structure;
receiving instructions to relocate the at least one layer within the multilayer structure; and
determining layer configuration data for the at least one layer based on the instructions to relocate and the at least one layer transformation guide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for designing multilayer structures are described. The multilayer structures may be of simple or complex shapes having a volume to be filled by multiple layers of composite material. The composite material may include fiber/polymer composites. The methods facilitate distribution and reordering of layers within the multilayer structure during the design phase. Dimensional data for each layer within the structure may be provided as output data and used to cut “flat” patterns for each layer. The methods and apparatus can accelerate design and development of high-strength, composite multilayer structures.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for designing a multilayer structure, the method executed by at least one processor, the at least one processor adapted to carry out process steps comprising:
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receiving design data defining dimensions of the multilayer structure; receiving parameter data defining at least one layer parameter of at least one layer of multiple layers to form the multilayer structure; calculating at least one layer transformation guide, the layer transformation guide identifying at least one configuration parameter of the at least one layer disposed at any one of a plurality of locations within the multilayer structure; receiving instructions to relocate the at least one layer within the multilayer structure; and determining layer configuration data for the at least one layer based on the instructions to relocate and the at least one layer transformation guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions, such that when executed the computer-executable instructions adapt an apparatus to execute process steps for designing a multilayer structure, the process steps comprising:
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dividing an outer bounding surface of the multilayer structure into at least a first surface portion and a second surface portion; calculating data representative of at least one layer transformation guide, the at least one layer transformation guide extending from the first surface portion to the second surface portion, the at least one layer transformation guide identifying plural configuration parameters of at least one layer of the multilayer structure, each of the plural configuration parameters corresponding to one of plural locations of the at least one layer within the multilayer structure; and defining data representative of pairs of isocontours on the first surface portion and the second surface portion, each isocontour on the first surface portion associated with a corresponding isocontour on the second surface portion and each pair defining loci of constant distances between the first surface portion and the second surface portion, and wherein the apparatus comprises at least one processor configured to access at least one manufactured storage device and wherein the multilayer structure comprises plural layers of composite material. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for designing a multilayer structure comprising plural layers of composite material, the method executed by a multilayer design tool having at least one processor adapted to carry out process steps comprising:
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partitioning a shape representative of the multilayer structure into plural sub-volumes; calculating a plurality of layer transformation guides for each one of the plural sub-volumes, each layer transformation guide associated with one layer of the multilayer structure; receiving instructions to relocate a selected layer within one of the plural sub-volumes; and determining layer configuration data for all layers moved within the one of the plural sub-volumes responsive to the relocation of the selected layer, the determining based on the instructions to relocate and layer transformation guides associated with the layers moved, and wherein the at least one processor of the multilayer design tool is in communication with at least one storage medium and the layer transformation guides define approximately the spatial extent of respective layers moved within the multilayer structure. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification