Patent ID: 8032339
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An element grouping method for Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis, to be implemented in a computer, comprising: a node grouping step grouping, by the computer, nodes of specific elements having a common parameter that relates to a material forming the elements amongst elements forming an analyzing model which is to be analyzed, and storing in a storage part, by the computer, grouped nodes having a referring number which is a predetermined value or less together with the specific elements to which the grouped nodes belong, said referring number indicating a number of times a reference is made to each of the grouped nodes; an edge element grouping step grouping, by the computer, the specific elements to which the grouped nodes belong from the storage part, and storing in the storage part, by the computer, the grouped specific elements that are defined as edge elements; a grouping check step checking, by the computer, whether all specific elements in an edge portion of the analyzing model are grouped as the edge elements, and executing said edge element grouping step by the computer until all specific elements in the edge portion are grouped as the edge elements; and an in-plane element grouping step grouping and storing in the storage part, by the computer, specific elements, other than the specific elements in the edge portion which are grouped as the edge elements, as the in-plane elements, wherein the grouping check step judges, by the computer, whether the edge elements in a portion of the analyzing model are continuous based on information of the edge elements and edge nodes belonging to the edge elements, and adds to the grouped edge elements and stores in the storage part, by the computer, the edge elements in a non-continuous portion of the analyzing model where the edge elements are not continuous.