System for performing coupled finite analysis

• US 7,127,380 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Isaac, Daron A., Iverson, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US10/005,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 703/2, 703/7, 703/9, 716/20, 345/420, 345/423, 700/204, 700/281, 382/276, 707/3
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/10 Numerical modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/23 using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]

Abstract

A graphical user interface, together with a comparable scripting interface, couples a plurality of finite element, finite volume, or finite difference analytical programs and permits iterative convergence of multiple programs through one set of predefined commands. The user is permitted to select the joint problem for solution by choosing program selections. Data linkages that couple the program are predefined by an expert system administrator to permit less skilled modelers access to a comprehensive and multifaceted solution that would not be possible for the less skilled modelers to complete absent the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method for performing coupled finite analyses to resolve a joint problem between finite analysis programs, the method comprising:

providing first and second finite analysis programs, wherein one of the first and the second finite analysis programs is a computational fluid dynamics program;

identifying the joint problem through use of a graphical user interface operable to identify the joint problem and to specify at least one criterion for a joint solution, wherein both the first and the second finite analysis programs can jointly and in combination solve the joint problem using the at least one criterion;

providing first program input values to the first finite analysis program;

executing the first finite analysis program to obtain first program output values including a first joint data set;

providing the second finite analysis program with second program input values including the first joint data set;

executing the second finite analysis program to provide second program output values including a second joint data set; and

providing the first finite analysis program with the first program input values including the second joint data set.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the graphical user interface includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint solution and the method further comprises repeating the acts of providing first program input values, executing the first finite analysis program, providing the second finite analysis program, executing the second finite analysis program, and providing the first finite analysis program, until the threshold convergence is achieved.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein repeating the acts is performed automatically and without user intervention.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing the first and the second finite analysis program further comprises selecting another of the first and the second finite analysis programs from the group consisting of a structural analysis program, a heat transfer program, a chemical reaction program, a chemical equilibrium analysis program, an internal ballistics program, and a fracture mechanics program.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing third program input values to a third finite analysis program, wherein the third program input values include data selected from the group consisting of the first joint data set, the second joint data set, and combinations thereof; and

executing the third finite analysis program to provide third program output values including a third joint data set.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising providing the third joint data set as input values to the first finite analysis program, the second finite analysis program, or combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the graphical user interface includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint problem and the method further comprises repeating the acts of providing first program input values, executing the first finite analysis program, providing the second finite analysis program, executing the second finite analysis program, providing the first finite analysis program, providing third program input values, executing the third finite analysis program, and providing the third joint data set, until threshold convergence is achieved.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the second finite analysis program with second program input values is performed automatically and without user intervention.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the first finite analysis program with first program input values is performed automatically and without user intervention.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes an interface for selecting the joint problem as including an additional program and for creating a user-specified data link operable to provide the additional program with shared input values selected from the group consisting of the first program output values, the second program output values, and combinations thereof, and the method further comprises selecting the joint problem including the additional program through use of the interface.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the additional program acts upon the shared input values and creates shared output values selected from the group consisting of the first program input values, the second program input values, and combinations thereof, and the method includes providing the shared output values to the first and the second finite analysis programs as specified by the user.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computational fluid dynamics program comprises a crack-combustion program.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises a means for modeling crack combustion in a missile based upon a computed tomography taken from a missile.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of identifying the joint problem includes using the graphical user interface to select from a list of preprogrammed functions.

14. The method as set forth in 13, wherein another of the first and the second finite analysis programs comprises a structural mechanics program.

16. A system for obtaining a solution to a joint problem, the system comprising:

a storage medium configured for storing;

first and second finite analysis programs, wherein one of the first and the second finite analysis programs is a computational fluid dynamics program; and

a graphical user interface operable to identify the joint problem and to specify at least one criterion for a joint solution, wherein both the first and the second finite analysis programs can jointly and in combination solve the joint problem;

a processor operably coupled to the storage medium for executing;

the first finite analysis program to obtain first program output values including a first joint data set;

the second finite analysis program to obtain second program output values including a second joint data set; and

the graphical user interface; and

an input device operably coupled to the processor and configured for providing first program input values and second program input values;

wherein the storage medium is further configured for providing the second finite analysis program with the second program input values including the first joint data set; and

wherein the storage medium is further configured for providing the first finite analysis program with the first program input values including the second joint data set.

17. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the graphical user interface includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint solution and the system comprises program instructions for repeating calculations until the threshold convergence is achieved.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the program instructions for repeating calculations operates automatically until the threshold convergence is achieved.

19. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a menuing system for selecting the joint problem as a problem combining the computational fluid dynamics program with another of the first and the second finite analysis programs selected from the group consisting of a structural analysis program, a heat transfer program, a chemical reaction program, a chemical equilibrium analysis program, an internal ballistics program, and a fracture mechanics program.

20. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the processor is further configured for executing a third finite analysis program to obtain third program output values including a third joint data set;

the input device is further configured for providing third program input values; and

the storage medium is further configured for storing the third finite analysis program and providing the third finite analysis program with the third program input values including input values selected from the group consisting of the first joint data set, the second joint data set, and combinations thereof.

21. The system as set forth in claim 20, including a predetermined data linkage for providing the third joint data set as input values to the first finite analysis program, the second finite analysis program, or combinations thereof.

22. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the criterion for the joint solution specified by the graphical user interface includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint problem and the system comprises program instructions for repeating calculations until the threshold convergence is achieved.

23. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface includes an interface for selecting the joint problem as one including an additional program and for creating a user-specified data link operable to provide the additional program with shared input values selected from the group consisting of the first program output values, the second program output values, and combinations thereof.

24. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the additional program acts upon the shared input values and creates shared output values selected from the group consisting of the first program input values, the second program input values, and combinations thereof, and

the system comprises a predetermined data linkage for providing the shared output values to the first and the second finite analysis programs as specified by the user.

25. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the computational fluid dynamics program comprises a crack combustion program.

26. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the system comprises means for modeling crack combustion through use of the crack combustion program in a missile based upon a computed tomography taken from the missile.

27. The system as set forth in claim 26, wherein another of the first and the second finite analysis programs is a structural mechanics program.

28. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the system comprises program instructions for identifying the joint problem by use of the graphical user interface to select from a list of preprogrammed functions.

29. The system as set forth in claim 28, comprising the preprogrammed functions being in an extensible object oriented scripting language possessing looping and decisional logic capabilities.

30. A computer readable form for use in an operating environment including an input device for providing user input, a storage medium for storing instructions, and a processor operably coupled to the storage medium, the computer readable form comprising the instructions for execution on the processor to perform a process comprising:

executing a graphical user interface operable to accept the user input, identify a joint problem, and to specify at least one criterion for a joint solution, wherein both a first and a second finite analysis program can jointly and in combination solve the joint problem and one of the first and the second finite analysis programs is a computational fluid dynamics program;

executing the first finite analysis program acting upon first program input values, which include at least some of the user input, to provide first program output values including a first joint data set;

executing the second finite analysis program acting upon second program input values, which include at least some of the user input and the first joint data set, to provide second program output values including a second joint data set; and

providing the first finite analysis program with the first program input values including the second joint data set.

31. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 30, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the graphical user interface includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint solution, and the computer readable form comprises instructions for repeating calculations until the threshold convergence is achieved.

32. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 30, wherein the graphical user interface comprises instructions for selecting the joint problem as one in which one of the first and the second finite analysis programs is the computational fluid dynamics programs and another of the first and the second finite analysis programs is selected from the group consisting of a structural analysis program, a heat transfer program, a chemical reaction program, a chemical equilibrium analysis program, an internal ballistics program, and a fracture mechanics program.

33. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 30, including instructions for executing a third finite analysis program acting upon third program input values, which include the first joint data set, the second joint data set, or combinations thereof, to provide third program output values including a third joint data set.

34. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 33, including instructions for providing the third joint data set as input values to the first finite analysis program, the second finite analysis program, or combination thereof.

35. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 34, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the graphical user interface includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint problem and the computer readable form comprises instructions for iterating until the threshold convergence is achieved.

36. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 30, wherein the graphical user interface includes instructions for an interface for identifying the joint problem as one including an additional program and for creating a user-specified data link operable to provide the additional program with shared input values selected from the group consisting of the first program output values, the second program output values, and combinations thereof.

37. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

the additional program includes instructions for acting upon the shared input values and creating shared output values, and

the computer readable form comprises instructions for providing the shared output values to the first finite analysis program, the second finite analysis program, or combinations thereof, as specified by the user.

38. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 30, wherein the computational fluid dynamics program is a crack combustion program, and the computer readable form comprises instructions for modeling crack combustion in a missile based upon a computed tomography taken from the missile through use of the crack combustion program.

39. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 30, wherein the instructions are operable for identifying the joint problem by use of the graphical user interface to select from a list of preprogrammed functions.

40. The computer readable form as set forth in 39, comprising the preprogrammed functions written in an extensible object oriented scripting language possessing looping and decisional logic capabilities.

41. A computer readable form for use in an operating environment including an input device for providing user input, a storage medium for storing instructions, and a processor operably coupled to the storage medium, the computer readable form comprising the instructions for execution on the processor to perform a process comprising:

executing a scripting language with a preprogrammed function library operable to identify a joint problem and to specify at least one criterion for a joint solution, wherein both a first and a second finite analysis program can jointly and in combination solve the joint problem and one of the first and the second finite analysis programs is a computational fluid dynamics program;

executing the first finite analysis program acting upon first program input values to provide first program output values including a first joint data set;

executing the second finite analysis program acting upon second program input values, which include the first joint data set, to provide second program output values including a second joint data set; and

providing the first finite analysis program with the first program input values including the second joint data set.

42. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 41, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the scripting language includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint solution, and the computer readable form comprises instructions for repeating calculations until the threshold convergence is achieved.

43. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 41, wherein the function library comprises instructions for selecting the joint problem as one in which one of the first and the second finite analysis programs is the computational fluid dynamics program and another of the first and the second finite analysis programs is selected from the group consisting of a structural analysis program, a heat transfer program, a chemical reaction program, a chemical equilibrium analysis program, an internal ballistics program, and a fracture mechanics program.

44. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 41, including instructions for executing a third finite analysis program acting upon third program input values, which include the first joint data set, the second joint data set, or combinations thereof, to provide third program output values including a third joint data set.

45. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 44, including instructions for providing the third joint data set as input values to the first finite analysis program, the second finite analysis program, or combinations thereof.

46. The computer readable form as set forth in claim 45, wherein the at least one criterion for the joint solution specified by the scripting language includes an iterative convergence criterion for a threshold convergence of the joint problem and the computer readable form comprises instructions for iterating until the threshold convergence is achieved.