Patent ID: 7613585

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of defining material properties hierarchically in finite element analysis of a structure represented by a plurality of finite elements, the method comprising: receiving at least one set of material property definitions to be used in a finite element analysis of the structure in a computer with a finite element analysis application module installed thereon; converting each of the at least one set of material property definitions to a new material type in a hierarchical relationship of material types stored in the computer, wherein the new material type is configured for being assigned to one or more of the finite elements; when said each of the at least one set of material property definitions is defined as a root material type, assigning the new material type to the root of the hierarchical relationship; reading and storing explicitly defined properties in said each of the at least one set of material property definitions as the material properties of the new material type; otherwise when said each of the at least one set of material property definitions is not defined as a root material type, locating a parent of the new material type from the hierarchical relationship; assigning the new material type as a child of the parent in the hierarchical relationship; inheriting or including material properties of the parent as the material properties of the new material type; reading and storing explicitly defined properties in said each of the at least one set of material property definitions to update the material properties of the new material type thereafter; and displaying, in a monitor coupled to the computer, a graphical representation of the hierarchical relationship as desired, wherein the graphical representation of the hierarchical relationship is configured for assisting users of the finite element analysis to efficiently create a finite element analysis model.