Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for simulating a consolidation process of a material form, comprising: input means for providing parameters of the material, container and consolidation process; setup means for determining the constitutive relations governed by multiple densification mechanisms including plasticity, power-law creep and diffusion; relation means for repetitively interrelating the constitutive relations based upon an estimate of a stage of densification at various times during the consolidation process; calculation means for providing convergent numerical solutions to the interrelated constitutive relations; estimating means for predicting physical properties of the material form at various times during the consolidation process; output means for providing visual and graphical representations of said physical properties; and control means for controlling a consolidation process based upon estimated predicted physical properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for simulating a consolidation process of a material form, comprising: input means for providing parameters of the material, container and consolidation process; setup means for determining the constitutive relations governed by multiple densification mechanisms including plasticity, power-law creep and diffusion; relation means for repetitively interrelating the constitutive relations based upon an estimate of a stage of densification at various times during the consolidation process; calculation means for providing convergent numerical solutions to the interrelated constitutive relations; estimating means for predicting physical properties of the material form at various times during the consolidation process; output means for providing visual and graphical representations of said physical properties; and control means for controlling a consolidation process based upon estimated predicted physical properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stage of densification includes Stage I and Stage II.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stage of densification further includes a transition stage between Stage I and Stage II.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said physical properties include at least one of macroscopic shape changes, microscopic shape changes, densification on a macroscopic basis, densification on a microscopic basis, effects of container surfaces and parameters, and physical instabilities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said constitutive relations are based upon continuum mechanics and micromechanical material parameters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: user-interface means for varying the parameters of the material, container and consolidation process and for restarting the simulation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for predicting physical properties of a material form subjected to a consolidation process comprising the steps of: determining parameters of the material and the consolidation process; repetitively estimating a stage of densification at various times during the consolidation process; interrelating at least two constitutive relations governed by densification mechanisms based upon the stage of densification; calculating a convergent numerical solution to the interrelated constitutive relations; estimating the physical properties of the material form based upon the convergent numerical solution; and controlling said consolidation process based upon said estimated physical properties.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for predicting physical properties of a material form subjected to a consolidation process comprising the steps of: determining parameters of the material and the consolidation process; repetitively estimating a stage of densification at various times during the consolidation process; interrelating at least two constitutive relations governed by densification mechanisms based upon the stage of densification; calculating a convergent numerical solution to the interrelated constitutive relations; estimating the physical properties of the material form based upon the convergent numerical solution; and controlling said consolidation process based upon said estimated physical properties.