JP2003067424A - Web based cae system utilizing lightening technique of curved surface model by lattice structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a CAE system capable of facilitating cooperative work by a plurality of users. SOLUTION: The present invention is a CAE system which conducts a simulation by designating conditions of simulation for designing and manufacturing data and comprises a client computer 3 and a server computer 1 connected to a network 4. The client computer comprises a first conversion means 32 which lightens data and converts them to a form shared on a Web and the server computer comprises an input screen creating means 14 to set conditions of simulation for data sent from the client computer through a network from the screen of the client computer, a CAE interface part 12 to take in data shared on a Web and a solver 13 to perform simulation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a client / client for designing / manufacturing data such as CAD data and physical property values, load conditions, boundary conditions and the like required for computer simulation via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.
The present invention relates to a CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) system for transmitting a computer simulation from a computer to a server computer for computer simulation, a client computer thereof, a server computer thereof, and a CAE program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Two types of conventional CAE systems are known, a stand-alone type and a client / server type. The input data for performing simulation with the CAE system, that is, the design and manufacturing data such as CAD data, has a huge amount of data, and in the stand-alone type, the data is stored in a recording medium and input to the CAE system, and thereafter, The simulation conditions were set, the solver was started, and the results were displayed.

Almost the same with the client / server type, input data for simulation, that is, design / manufacturing data such as CAD data is transmitted from the client computer to the server computer. Also in this case, since the amount of data is enormous, it is necessary to transmit the data through a network having a large line scale or a local area LAN.

[0004]

In the conventional CAE system, when the input data for computer simulation is stored in a recording medium and the simulation is carried out by a stand-alone computer, the user creates the input data as a standalone. It was necessary to bring even a computer of the type, and it was difficult to distribute input data and simulation results among multiple users.

Further, in the conventional client / server type, when a user sends design / manufacturing data such as CAD data created to a server / computer, the amount of data is enormous, so that a network having a large line scale or a local LAN, etc. Had to use. That is, distribution of input data and simulation results on the Internet has been difficult due to the huge amount of data. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to inexpensively and easily share information on the Internet, and it is difficult for multiple users to collaborate.

An object of the present invention is to enable a plurality of users to inexpensively and easily distribute input data and simulation results on the Internet with a small amount of data,
It is an object to provide a CAE system, a server computer thereof, a client computer thereof, and a CAE program that allow a plurality of users to easily perform a cooperative work.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, simulation conditions including physical property values, load conditions and boundary conditions are specified for design / manufacturing data. In a CAE system that performs computer simulation by using a client computer and a server computer connected to a network, the client computer can reduce the weight of the created design / manufacturing data and share it on the Web. A first conversion means for converting to a data format,
The server computer has at least one of the simulation conditions for data that can be shared on the Web sent from the client computer via the network.
An input screen creating means for setting one from the screen of the client computer, a CAE interface section for taking in data sharable on the web transmitted from the client computer, and a solver for executing a computer simulation, The CAE interface unit converts the data sharable on the web into data required by the solver according to the purpose of the simulation, and the simulation result by the solver into a display model of a specified display format. And a simulation result display model creating means for reducing the weight of the display model, interpreting the weighted data, and converting the data into data that can be displayed on a browser having a viewer for displaying as three-dimensional information. CAE comprising means Stem is provided.

The client computer may be multiple client computers. In this case, at least one of the plurality of client computers accesses the server computer and sets at least one of the simulation conditions for data that can be shared on the web included in the screen creating means, and sets the simulation conditions. When the above is completed, the solver executes a computer simulation, the simulation result display model creating means creates a display model in a display format designated from the simulation result, and the third converting means reduces the weight of the display model. , The data is stored in a storage device after being converted into data that can be displayed on a browser having a viewer, and each client computer accesses the storage device connected to the server computer to access the client computer.
Display simulation results that can be displayed on a lightweight browser on the computer screen.

According to another aspect of the present invention, only the client computer described above is also provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided only the above server computer.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a CAE system that causes a computer to execute the above computer simulation.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned C
Only CAE programs used on client computers in the AE system are also provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the step of converting to the data format that can be shared on the web includes the step of determining a curved surface model corresponding to the lattice polygon model.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, only the CAE program used in the above server computer is also provided.

As a result, the user can access the server computer and display the simulation result as data that can be displayed on the shared lightweight browser.
It becomes possible to study various designs and manufacturing.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a CAE system according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In the CAE system described below, roughly,
A user uses a client computer to convert design / manufacturing data such as CAD data into significantly lightweight web sharing format data (hereinafter referred to as WMM data), and the computer simulation is performed via a network such as a LAN or the Internet. To the server computer that implements the. Furthermore, for WMM data shared by the same or a plurality of users in the server on the network, physical property values, load conditions, boundary conditions, etc. necessary for computer simulation are set on the screen of the client computer. . afterwards,
The server computer executes the simulation, creates the simulation result as one or more different display models, converts the simulation result into data that can be displayed on the lightweight browser, and stores the data in the storage device of the server computer.

By accessing the server computer using the client computer and referring to the simulation result on the browser, the user can inexpensively and easily perform information sharing and collaborative work between the users.

Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a CAE system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, server computer 1 and client computer 3
Are connected via the Internet 4. server·
The computer 1 is connected to the storage device 2. The server computer 1 includes an internet interface section 11, a CAE interface section 12, a solver 13, and an input screen creating means 14. CAE
The interface unit 12 converts the lightweight web shared format data received from the client computer into data that can be passed to the solver, a means 17 for creating a display model from the simulation result by the solver, and a display of the simulation result. For converting data for lightweight models that can be displayed on a browser
5 and.

The client computer 3 includes a browser 31 and a conversion means 32 for converting design / manufacturing data such as CAD data into lightweight Web sharing format data (WMM data) and CAD data to be subjected to computer simulation. It has design / manufacturing data 33.

Next, the operation of the CAE system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the CAE system shown in FIG. This operation is realized by a program executed by a computer.

In step S1 of FIG. 2, the conversion means 32 causes the client computer 3 to operate as a computer.
Convert design / manufacturing data such as CAD data for simulation into web sharing format data that has been significantly reduced in weight. This conversion is a CAD created as shown in FIG.
It is performed by using a different conversion means for each type.

FIG. 5 (a) shows a display screen of CAD data before conversion, and FIG. 5 (b) shows a lightweight web sharing format data (WM) after conversion of CAD data by the conversion means 32.
The display screen of (M data) is shown. The web sharing format data (WMM data) after conversion is also CAD data.

In the case of FIG. 5A, the file capacity of CAD data is 93 MB, but the file capacity of the web sharing format data of FIG. 5B after conversion is 0.9 MB.
In this way, the file size is greatly reduced.

Next, in step S2, the user transmits the lightweight web sharing format data (WMM data) from the client computer 3 to the server computer 1 via the Internet 4.

Next, in step S3, the user accesses the server computer 1 via the Internet and is required for computer simulation of the design / manufacturing data transmitted by the user created by the input screen creating means 14 of the server computer 1. Opens a screen for setting physical property values, load conditions, boundary conditions, etc.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for setting conditions necessary for computer simulation. As illustrated, allocation screens such as a load condition allocation panel 61 and a constraint condition allocation panel 62 are displayed on the screen. Each assignment panel has a column for selecting "condition name", and further buttons such as "edit", "apply", and "close" are displayed.

For example, when the "edit" button on the load condition assignment panel 61 is pressed, the load condition edit panel 63 is displayed. On the load condition edit panel 63, "condition name",
"X, Y, Z directions", "X axis rotation direction, Y axis rotation direction,
There are entry or selection fields for "Z-axis rotation direction", "load type", and "coordinate system type".

Next, the process for setting the conditions necessary for computer simulation is as follows.

That is, in step S3, the user opens a screen for setting conditions necessary for computer simulation and sets the conditions.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how a simulation model is created by deleting unnecessary shapes from WMM data and setting conditions.

When a plurality of users participate in the condition setting, as shown in step S4, for example, the shared WMM is used.
If the data is on the server, other users can participate in the setting of conditions necessary for computer simulation by accessing the same screen.

FIG. 8 shows that a plurality of clients access the server to check the conditions given to the WMM data,
It is a figure showing signs that conditions are added and conditions are corrected.

After the necessary condition setting is completed in step S5, the user instructs the server computer 1 to execute the computer simulation in step S6.

Then, in step S7, the CAE interface unit 12 takes in the WMM data to which the simulation condition is added. WMM data conversion means 1
6 converts WMM data into data that can be passed to the solver 13.

In FIG. 9, the CAE interface unit 12 has a W
It is a figure which shows a mode that MM data is converted into the data which can be passed to the solver 13.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the process of converting the data of the solver 13 into WPM data described below.

In step S8 of FIG. 2, the solver 13 executes a computer simulation based on the passed data. The simulation result is stored in the result file 101 (storage device 2 in FIG. 1) shown in FIG.

Then, in step S9 shown in FIG. 3, the simulation result display model creating means 17 renders the simulation result stored in the result file 101 into a designated display format such as a deformation diagram or a stress diagram. As shown in FIG. 10, this processing is performed while visually recognizing it by automatic processing or manual processing designated by the client, and the created display model is stored in the display model storage means 102 shown in FIG.

Next, at step S10, the conversion means 15 for converting the lightweight data which can be displayed on the browser into a data model which can display on the browser the display model in which the simulation results are displayed in various display formats (this is the Web format). P
ost Model, called WPM data). The WPM data that is the conversion result is stored in the storage device 2.

Next, in step S11, the user accesses the server computer 1 to refer to the WPM data on the web. Since it can be referred to on the Web, a plurality of users can refer to the computer simulation result, and information sharing and collaborative work can be realized at low cost and easily.

To display a curved surface model such as CAD data, a method of displaying a curved surface using a large number of polygons or a method of expressing a solid model having the curved surface data strictly has been conventionally used. However, in any case, the amount of data was large and it was difficult to use in a network environment.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lattice structure (lattice + polygon model +) using the interpolated surface data is used.
By expressing the curved surface model with additional information such as rounding, it is possible to display the curved surface with a small amount of data.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the rounding operation. In the figure, at step S111 C
The curved surface data of the shape which is the design / manufacturing data 33 (see FIG. 1) such as AD data is input to the conversion means 32, and in step S112, the vertex information corresponding to each vertex of the lattice structure is obtained from the curved surface data of the shape. calculate. That is,
For each vertex of the lattice polygon model, the corresponding vertex of the curved surface model is calculated.

Next, in step S113, curve information corresponding to each ridge of the lattice structure is calculated. In particular,
For each ridge line of the lattice polygon model, the curved ridge line of the curved surface model corresponding to this is determined. The ridge is realized by a cubic Bezier curve.

Then, in step S114, step S
The rounding coefficient is determined from the vertex and edge information calculated in step 113. As a result, a lattice polygon model and rounding information are generated from the curved surface model. Since this operation is a reversible operation,
A curved surface model can also be generated from the lattice polygon model and rounding information. When generating a lattice polygon model from a curved surface model, rounding information is added to the vertices and edges of the lattice polygon model. Further, the curved surface model is generated from the lattice polygon model by interpreting the lattice polygon model and the added rounding information. Here, the amount of data of the lattice polygon model and the added rounding information is several tens of minutes as compared with the case where the curved surface model is displayed in the VRML format.

From the above, a lattice structure consisting of a lattice polygon model and rounding information of edges and vertices is generated from the curved surface model, and this lattice structure is transmitted to the server computer 1 via the Internet 4 in step S115.

The server computer 1 interpolates the Gregory curved surface using the calculated information and outputs the shape of the curved surface model. Specifically, the browser with a viewer that interprets the lattice structure calculates the vertices of the corresponding curved surface model from the lattice polygon model of the lattice structure, and for each ridge line of the lattice polygon model, the corresponding curved surface. The curve edge of the model is represented by a cubic Bezier curve or its sequence, and then the model enclosed by the cubic Bezier curve (column) is interpolated with a Gregory surface to create a curved surface model and display it. It becomes possible to send and receive curved surface models on the network by quantity.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining a concrete example of a program executed by the web sharing format data converting means 16 in the server computer 1. In the figure, in step S121, WMM data is input from the client computer 3 to the web sharing format data conversion means 16 in the server computer 1.

Next, in step S122, a shape that can be used for simulation is created from the shape represented by the lattice structure in the WMM data.

Next, in step S123, the physical property values, load conditions, and boundary conditions used in the simulation are acquired from the WMM data.

Next, in step S124, the solver 13
Generate input data for analysis suitable for. For example, if the solver 13 performs analysis using the finite element method,
A mesh for performing analysis using the finite element method is created for the shape created in step S122.

Next, in step S125, the analysis input data suitable for the solver 13 is passed to the solver 13.

As described above, the lightweight web sharing data sent from the client computer 3 is converted into analysis input data suitable for the solver and passed to the solver 13.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a specific example of a program executed by the simulation result display model creating means in the server computer 1 and the light weight data converting means 15 which can be displayed on the browser. In the figure, in step S131, the simulation result by the solver 13 is input to the simulation result display model creating means 17.

Next, in step S132, the simulation result display model creating means 17 acquires the curve information, the vertex information, and the ridge line information indicating the result shape from the simulation result.

Next, in step S133, the simulation result display model creating means 17 expresses the acquired information by various methods, for example, contour lines and the color of the result display.

Then, in step S134, the lattice result having the lattice polygon model and the rounding information of the ridges / vertices is obtained by the same method as described with reference to FIG. 11 for the simulation result represented by the contour line and the color of the result display. Expressed by structure.

Next, in step S135, the data (Web Post) that can display the simulation result on the browser is displayed.
(Model, WPM data) to the storage device 2. Specifically, data that has a small amount of data, is easy to transmit on the network, and can be displayed on a browser that has a viewer that interprets the lattice structure, and that is a model converted from a simulation result display model into a lattice structure (WPM data). Is output to the storage device 2.

As a result, by accessing the server computer 1 from a plurality of client computers 3, it becomes possible to display the simulation result display model on the screens of the plurality of client computers 3.

[0062]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, C does not mean that only one user performs the condition setting to the result examination in computer simulation.
Design / manufacturing data such as AD data has been significantly reduced in weight,
Convert to a data format that can be shared on the Web and send it to a server computer that performs computer simulation via a network such as LAN or Internet, and multiple users can set the conditions of the computer simulation via the network to the screen of the client computer. The model for display of the computer simulation result can be significantly reduced in weight and converted into a format that can be displayed on a browser, so that a plurality of users can refer to it on the web via the network. Therefore, information sharing and computer
Multiple users can perform collaborative work per simulation, and the efficiency of design / manufacturing work can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a CAE system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a part of a flowchart showing a processing operation of the CAE system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is another part of the flowchart showing the processing operation of the CAE system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a conversion process from design / manufacturing data such as CAD data to web sharing format data that is significantly reduced in weight according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A is a diagram showing a display screen of CAD data, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a display screen of web sharing format data in which the CAD data is lightened.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a computer simulation condition setting screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how a simulation model is created by deleting unnecessary shapes from WMM data and setting conditions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how a plurality of clients access a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how the CAE interface unit 12 converts WMM data into data that can be passed to the solver 13 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of converting the data of the solver 13 into WPM data described below according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a specific example of a program executed by the conversion means 32 for lightweight Web shared format data in the client computer 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a program executed by the web shared format data conversion means 16 in the server computer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a program executed by the simulation result display model creating means and the lightweight data converting means 15 that can be displayed on the browser in the server computer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Is.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server computer 2 ... Storage device 3 ... Client computer 4 ... Internet 11 ... Internet interface section 12 ... CAE interface section 13 ... Solver 14 ... Input screen creating means 15 ... To lightweight data that can be displayed on a browser Conversion means 16 ... Web sharing format data converting means 17 ... Simulation result display model creating means 31 ... Browser 32 ... Lightweight web sharing format data converting means 33 ... Design / manufacturing data such as CAD data

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hasegawa             2-7-5 Minamisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo             -In AR Solutions (72) Inventor Hiroshi Toriya             3-8-11 Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Toeiei 9             Dan Building 4F (72) Inventor Takeshi Harada             3-8-11 Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Toeiei 9             Dan Building 4F (72) Inventor Makoto Yajima             3-8-11 Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Toeiei 9             Dan Building 4F F-term (reference) 5B046 CA06 FA18 HA05 JA07

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A CAE system for performing computer simulation by designating simulation data including physical property values, load conditions and boundary conditions for design / manufacturing data, and a client computer and a server computer connected to a network. Wherein the client computer has a created design
The manufacturing method further includes a first conversion unit that reduces manufacturing data and converts the manufacturing data into a data format that can be shared on the Web. The server computer shares the data on the Web transmitted from the client computer via the network. Input screen creating means for setting at least one of the simulation conditions for possible data from the screen of the client computer, and CAE for capturing sharable data on the web transmitted from the client computer The CAE interface unit includes an interface unit and a solver for executing a computer simulation, and the CAE interface unit converts the data sharable on the web into data required by the solver according to a purpose of the simulation. Means and by the solver A simulation result display model creating means for converting the simulation result into a display model of a specified display format; and a viewer for reducing the weight of the display model and interpreting the weighted data to display as three-dimensional information. A CAE system, comprising: a third conversion unit that converts the data into data that can be displayed on the browser. 2. The client computer is a plurality of client computers, and at least one of the plurality of client computers can access the server computer and share it on the web included in the screen creating means. At least one of the simulation conditions is set for various data, and when the setting of the simulation condition is completed, the solver executes a computer simulation, and the simulation result display model creating means displays a display designated from the simulation result. A display model of a format is created, and the third converting means reduces the weight of the display model.
The data is converted into data that can be displayed on a browser having the viewer and stored in a storage device, and each of the client computers accesses the storage device connected to the server computer to display on the screen of the client computer. The CAE system according to claim 1, wherein a simulation result that can be displayed on the lightweight browser is displayed. 3. A client computer and a server computer connected to a network for performing computer simulation by designating physical property values, load conditions and boundary conditions for design / manufacturing data. A client computer in a CAE system comprising:
A client computer, characterized by having a conversion means for reducing the weight of manufacturing data and converting it into a data format that can be shared on the Web. 4. In order to perform a computer simulation by specifying simulation conditions including physical property values, load conditions and boundary conditions for design / manufacturing data,
A server computer in a CAE system comprising a client computer and a server computer connected to a network, the server computer being shareable on the web sent from the client computer via the network. An input screen creating means for setting at least one of simulation conditions for the data from the screen of the client computer; and a CAE interface unit for taking in the sharable data transmitted from the client computer on the web. And a solver for executing a computer simulation, wherein the CAE interface unit provides data that can be shared on the web to a data required by the solver according to a purpose of the simulation. A first conversion means for converting the simulation result by the solver to a simulation result display model creating means for converting the simulation result by the solver into a display model of a specified display format; and a lightweight display model capable of displaying the display model on a browser. And a second conversion means for converting the converted data into converted data. 5. A CA that causes a computer to execute simulation by designating design / manufacturing data with simulation conditions including physical property values, load conditions and boundary conditions.
An E system, which uses a client computer and a server computer connected to a network, converts the created design / manufacturing data into a data format that can be shared on the Web by making the client computer lightweight. And a step of transmitting data that can be shared on the web from the client computer to the server computer via the network, and a computer simulation condition setting screen provided in the server computer. On the browser of the client computer to set conditions, and when the condition setting is completed, causing a solver provided on the server computer to execute computer simulation. A step of converting the simulation result into a display model of a specified display format, and making the display model of the specified display format lightweight so that it can be displayed on a browser having the viewer. Interpreting and converting into a data format that can be displayed by a browser having a viewer for displaying as three-dimensional information, and storing the data in a storage device connected to the server computer; and reducing the weight that can be displayed on the browser. And a step of displaying the computer simulation result converted into the data format on the screen of the client computer. 6. A client computer and a server computer connected to a network for performing computer simulation by designating physical property values, load conditions and simulation conditions including boundary conditions for design / manufacturing data. The CAE used in the client computer, wherein the step of converting the created design / manufacturing data into a data format that can be shared on the Web is performed in the client computer in the CAE system provided. program. 7. The CAE program according to claim 6, wherein the step of converting into a data format that can be shared on the Web includes the step of determining a curved surface model corresponding to a lattice polygon model. 8. The client computer is connected to the server computer connected to a network in order to perform computer simulation by designating physical property values, load conditions and boundary conditions for design / manufacturing data. From the screen of the client computer to at least one of the simulation conditions for the sharable data transmitted from the client computer via the network, and on the web transmitted from the client computer. The method includes the steps of importing sharable data into the CAE interface section and the step of executing a computer simulation by a solver. In the CAE interface section, the sharable data on the web is stained. CAE program used by the server computer, characterized in that to execute the steps of converting the data required by the solver in accordance with the purpose of configuration. 9. A step of converting the simulation result by the solver into a display model of a specified display format in the server computer; and converting the display model into data that can be displayed on a browser and is lightweight. 9. The CAE program according to claim 8, further comprising: