Patent ID: 6212485
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: G16C

Abstract:
A computer implemented method for analyzing behavior of an engineering structure including a micro-inhomogeneous material whose micro- structure includes plural constituent materials and for optimal design of said micro-structure by using a unified procedure for modifying material properties of said constituent materials and thereby modifying global characteristics of said structure, by combining a molecular simulation method with a homogenization analysis, comprising the steps of:(a) using a molecular simulation method for obtaining molecular-level particle-data which substantially include positions, velocities and/or accelerations of molecules of said constituent materials of said micro- inhomogeneous material under a set of material limit conditions;(b) applying a statistical thermodynamic procedure to said molecular level particle-data for determining volume-averaged inhomogeneous material properties, defined as bulk properties of said constituent materials and of interfaces that substantially comprise boundaries of said plural constituent materials;(c) applying a homogenization analysis for a set of differential equations in which said bulk properties are used for predicting behavior of said structure, and calculating field variables distributed in said micro-inhomogeneous material;(d) comparing said field variables in said constituent materials with a predetermined material standard for judging whether or not to accept said material limit conditions for said constituent materials;(e) if said comparison of step (d) determines that said material limit conditions should not be accepted, changing said material limit conditions, and applying said steps (a) to (d) repeatedly until the comparison of step (d) indicates that said material limit conditions are to be accepted,(f) if said micro-inhomogeneous material is a manufactured material, judging whether or not said micro-structure is appropriate in the sense that said field variables are in accordance with a predetermined standard;(g) when said step (f) is performed and does not give an affirmative answer, changing a geometry and/or a type of at least one of said constituent materials and repeating said steps (a) to (f) until an affirmative answer is obtained in said step (f); and(h) changing a material property of at least one of said constituent materials of said micro-inhomogeneous material in accordance with at least one of said material limit conditions judged acceptable by said step (d) and said geometry and/or shape of said step (g) which are acceptable in accordance with an affirmative determination obtained in said step (f).