Patent ID: 8855977
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of numerically simulating structural behaviors of a product using explicit finite element analysis (FEA) with a combined technique of subcycling and mass scaling, said method comprising: receiving a FEA model and a minimum time step size (Δt establishing N element groups with a first element group associated with said minimum time step size, remaining of the N element groups being associated with integer multiples of said minimum time step size, where N is a whole number greater than one; sorting the finite elements into the N element groups based on respective critical time step sizes of the finite elements; applying mass scaling to maintain a stable solution in the first element group, said mass scaling being applied to each finite element in the first element group having its element critical time step size smaller than the minimum time step size, such that said each finite element is stably processed in the time-marching simulation; and obtaining simulated structural behaviors at a number of major solution cycles and at one or more sub solution cycles within each major solution cycle by conducting the time-marching simulation using the FEA model with the explicit FEA application module executed in the computer system, said explicit FEA application module applying a combined technique of subcycling and mass scaling with periodic resorting of the finite elements based on their new respective element critical time step sizes and with applying mass scaling to maintain a stable solution in the first element group.