Patent ID: 8392161
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of simulation, comprising: representing at least a portion of an absorbent article with a computer based model of the absorbent article, wherein the absorbent article includes an absorbent material, and wherein the absorbent material is represented by a plurality of elements with each of the elements including an amount of the absorbent material; representing a distribution of a bodily fluid in the article with a computer based model of the bodily fluid; for each of the elements, determining a calculated swelling, based, at least in part, on an amount of the bodily fluid absorbed by the absorbent material in the element; transforming the model of the absorbent article by simulating a swelling of the absorbent article, using finite element analysis, based, at least in part, on the calculated swelling for each of the elements, to form a computer based model that represents the portion of the absorbent article, in a swollen state; and determining, for each of the elements, the amount of the bodily fluid absorbed by the absorbent material in the element, based, at least in part, on a rate of absorption of the bodily fluid by the absorbent material in the element.