Patent Document ID: 10042962
Application ID: 14282236
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. An apparatus for implementation of a finite element analysis system, the apparatus comprising: a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least: develop a finite element model of a structural product composed of a plurality of structural components, including the apparatus being caused to at least: receive a solid model of the structural product, the solid model representing the plurality of structural components by a collection of geometry; select an axis of a local coordinate system in which the solid model is defined; select, from the geometry in the solid model, a group of geometry having approximately the same shape and perpendicular to the axis, the group of geometry including geometry for multiple ones of the plurality of structural components; cluster the geometry of the group of geometry into clusters of geometry based on a relationship between the geometry, each cluster of the clusters representing a structural component of the multiple ones of the plurality of structural components; construct a mid-surface model of the structural product, including the apparatus being caused to compute respective mid-surfaces for the clusters; and generate the finite element model from the mid-surface model and thereby indirectly from the solid model; and perform a finite element analysis of the structural product from the finite element model.