Ply Blending and Stacking Sequence
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for a composite structure;
splitting a model of the composite structure into a plurality of panels;
determining a set of lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure;
determining ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using an objective function; and
determining a fiber angle for the each ply of the plurality of panels, such that the model of the composite structure has a stiffness equal to the desired stiffness distribution.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for ply blending. A desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for a composite structure are received. A model of the composite structure is split into a plurality of panels. Lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels are determined using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure. Ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels are determined using an objective function. A fiber angle is determined for each ply of the plurality of panels. Each ply of a first half of a panel of the plurality of panels has a different fiber angle value than each other ply of the first half of the panel.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for a composite structure; splitting a model of the composite structure into a plurality of panels; determining a set of lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure; determining ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using an objective function; and determining a fiber angle for the each ply of the plurality of panels, such that the model of the composite structure has a stiffness equal to the desired stiffness distribution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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receiving a desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for a composite structure; splitting a model of the composite structure into a plurality of panels; determining a set of lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure; determining ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using an objective function, wherein determining the ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using the objective function comprises; grouping panels of the plurality of panels with a same quantity of plies and same set of lamination parameters to form a plurality of groups, wherein each panel of a group of the plurality of groups has a same layup; and creating a plurality of ply sequences for the plurality of groups, wherein each of the plurality of ply sequences represents at least one ply for at least one panel in the plurality of panels; and determining a fiber angle for each ply of the plurality of panels, wherein determining a fiber angle for each ply of the plurality of panels comprises; generating equations for the set of lamination parameters for each group of the plurality of groups; combining the equations for each group of the plurality of groups into a system; and solving for a plurality of angle variables in the system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for forming a composite structure, the method comprising:
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receiving a desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure; splitting a model of the composite structure into a plurality of panels; determining a set of lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure; determining ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using an objective function; determining a fiber angle for each ply of the plurality of panels; arranging the plies according to stacking sequence rules to form a ply arrangement, wherein the stacking sequence rules include at least one of symmetry, separation of plies with fiber angles with more than a 45 degrees difference, or avoidance of ply clusters; and laying up composite material according to the ply arrangement to form the composite structure, wherein the composite structure has a stiffness equal to the desired stiffness distribution. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer system comprising:
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a composite laminate designer that receives a desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for a composite structure, splits a model of the composite structure into a plurality of panels, and determines a set of lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure; a ply shape optimizer that determines ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using an objective function; and a fiber angle selector that determines a fiber angle for the each ply of the plurality of panels, such that the model of the composite structure has a stiffness equal to the desired stiffness distribution. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer program product for designing a composite structure comprising:
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a computer readable storage media; first program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for receiving a desired thickness and a desired stiffness distribution for a composite structure; second program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for splitting a model of the composite structure into a plurality of panels; third program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for determining a set of lamination parameters and a quantity of plies for each panel of the plurality of panels using the desired thickness and the desired stiffness distribution for the composite structure; fourth program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for determining ply shapes for each ply of the plurality of panels using an objective function; and fifth program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for determining a fiber angle for the each ply of the plurality of panels, such that the model of the composite structure has a stiffness equal to the desired stiffness distribution. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification