System and methods of generating a computer model of a composite component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016179984-A1
Application number	US-201414579200-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2014
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for generating a computer model of a composite component includes generating a surface mesh based on a ply drop region and a ply curved surface and generating node data including a plurality of node points relative to the ply drop region. The method also includes receiving composite data relating to a plurality of composite plies and generating a three dimensional model based on the composite data. The method further includes receiving layup table information and applying the node data, based on the layup table information, to generate a curve through a center of the surface mesh to define a plurality of element sets. The method also includes receiving composite draping data and determining, based on the draping data, where each element set intersects the three dimensional model. The method also includes analyzing an angle deviation of the plies based on the intersection of the element sets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of a composite component using a computing device including at least one processor coupled to a memory device, the composite component having a base surface and a predefined ply curved surface formed by a ply of a plurality of composite plies, each ply of the plurality of composite plies having a ply thickness, said method comprising:
defining a ply drop region of the base surface; generating a surface mesh based on the ply drop region and the ply curved surface; generating node data including a plurality of node points relative to the ply drop region; receiving composite data relating to the plurality of composite plies; generating a three dimensional model based on the composite data; receiving layup table information; applying the node data, based on the layup table information, to generate a curve through a center of the surface mesh to define a plurality of element sets; receiving composite draping data; determining, based on the draping data, where each element set of the plurality of element sets intersects the three dimensional model; and analyzing an angle deviation of a ply of the plurality of plies based on the intersection of the element sets.

2 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving composite data comprises receiving registration data relative to a lifting model.

3 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving composite data comprises receiving registration data relative to a bird strike model.

4 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the three dimensional model comprises using composite data which represents a two dimensional model of the ply curved surface.

5 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving layup table information comprises receiving information relating to at least one of layup sequence, a ply orientation, a ply angle, a ply thickness, and a ply geometry.

6 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving composite draping data comprises receiving a hand layup draping angle.

7 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving composite draping data comprises receiving an automated fiber placement draping angle.

8 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising generating a manufacturing layup sequence for the plurality of composite plies.

9 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the angle deviation comprises determining a centroid location of each element set of the plurality of element sets.

10 . A computing device for generating a computer model of a composite component, the composite component including a base surface, a ply curved surface, and a plurality of composite plies, said computing device comprising:
a memory device configured to store a characteristic of the composite component; an interface coupled to said memory device and configured to receive said characteristic of the composite component; and a processor coupled to said memory device and said interface device, said processor configured to:
define a ply drop region of the base surface;
generate a surface mesh based on the ply drop region and the ply curved surface;
generate node data including a plurality of node points relative to the ply drop region;
receive composite data relating to the plurality of composite plies;
generate a three dimensional model based on the composite data;
receive layup table information;
apply the node data, based on the layup table information, to generate a curve through a center of the surface mesh to define a plurality of element sets;
receive composite drape data;
determine, based on the drape data, where each element set of the plurality of element sets intersects the three dimensional model; and
analyze an angle deviation of a ply of the plurality of plies based on the intersection of the element sets.

11 . The computer device of claim 10 , wherein the composite data includes registration data relative to a lifting model.

12 . The computer device of claim 10 , wherein the composite data includes registration data relative to a bird strike model.

13 . The computer device of claim 10 , wherein the layup table information includes information relating to at least one of layup sequence, a ply orientation, a ply angle, a ply thickness, and a ply geometry.

14 . The computer device of claim 10 , wherein the composite draping data includes a hand layup draping angle.

15 . The computer device of claim 10 , wherein the composite draping data includes an automated fiber placement draping angle.

16 . The computer device of claim 11 , wherein said processor is further configured to analyze the angle deviation through determining a centroid location of each element set of the plurality of element sets.

17 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for generating a computer model of a composite component, the composite component having a base surface, a ply curved surface, and a plurality of composite plies using a computer having a memory device and a processor, wherein when executed by the processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
define a ply drop region of the base surface; generate a surface mesh based on the ply drop region and the ply curved surface; generate node data include a plurality of node points relative to the ply drop region; receive composite data relating to the plurality of composite plies; generate a three dimensional model based on the composite data; receive layup table information; apply the node data, based on the layup table information, to generate a curve through a center of the surface mesh to define a plurality of element sets; receive composite drape data; determine, based on the drape data, where each element set of the plurality of element sets intersects the three dimensional model; and analyze an angle deviation of a ply of the plurality of plies based on the intersection of the element sets.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the processor to determine a centroid location of each element set of the plurality of element sets.

19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the processor to generate a manufacturing layup sequence for the plurality of composite plies.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the processor to receive composite draping data through one of receiving a hand layup draping angle and receiving an automated fiber placement draping angle.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Chen-Keat Teresa Tianshu
• Zheng Li
• Kray Nicholas Joseph
• Yang Pinghai
• Fairman Ruben Egberto
• Hartle Michael Scott

Classifications

• G06T17/00 Primary

  Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics · CPC title

• G06F30/23

  using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] · CPC title

• G06F2113/26

  Composites · CPC title

• G06F17/50 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• B29C70/30

  Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core · CPC title