Patent ID: 8498851
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for analyzing two-dimensional or three-dimensional movement of a fluid in an absorbent article that comprises fluid-swellable composite material, which comprises a fluid-swellable solid material, and that comprises void spaces in the fluid-swellable composite material, the fluid-swellable composite material being defined by a virtual two-dimensional or three-dimensional mesh, to determine performance or property of at least one feature of the absorbent article or the fluid-swellable composite material thereof, the method comprising: a) inputting one or more properties for the fluid-swellable composite material, or fluid-swellable solid material thereof, into a virtual model of the absorbent article; and b) evaluating, using a computer, the virtual model of the absorbent article to determine performance of the at least one feature of the absorbent article or fluid-swellable composite material thereof; the virtual model comprising a solution of the following equations: i) an equation for determining a liquid movement in void spaces, at a given location of the fluid-swellable composite material and/or at a given time; ii) an equation for determining an amount of liquid present in the fluid-swellable solid material, at a given location of the fluid-swellable composite material and/or at a given time; and iii) an equation for determining displacement of one or more locations or the mesh of the fluid-swellable composite material, due to swelling of the material, at a given time, wherein a solution of the equations is described by the following: wherein s