Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for characterizing composite materials, and in particular, to utilizing an artificial neural network for predicting an impact resistance of a composite material. A method for predicting an impact resistance of a composite material in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of designing an artificial neural network including a plurality of neurons, training the artificial neural network to predict the impact resistance by adjusting an output of the plurality of neurons according to sample data and known results of the sample data, inputting data of the composite material into the artificial neural network, and utilizing the artificial neural network to predict the impact resistance of the composite material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for characterizing composite materials, and in particular, to utilizing an artificial neural network for predicting an impact resistance of a composite material. A method for predicting an impact resistance of a composite material in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of designing an artificial neural network including a plurality of neurons, training the artificial neural network to predict the impact resistance by adjusting an output of the plurality of neurons according to sample data and known results of the sample data, inputting data of the composite material into the artificial neural network, and utilizing the artificial neural network to predict the impact resistance of the composite material.

Abstract: The method of modeling thermal problems using a non-dimensional finite element method is a computerized method for modeling thermal systems that relies on the variational principle. The variational principle specifies the total potential of the system, given by a scalar quantity ?, which is defined by an integral form for a continuum problem. The solution of the continuum problem is a function that makes ? stationary with respect to the state variables. The governing equation of the problem is used to calculate the potential ?. The non-dimensional form of the potential is obtained by insertion of the defined non-dimensionless parameters. The element non-dimensional stiffness matrix and the non-dimensional load vectors are then obtained by invoking the stationarity of the non-dimensional potential ? with respect to a non-dimensional temperature vector {?}.

Abstract: The method of modeling thermal problems using a non-dimensional finite element method is a computerized method for modeling thermal systems that relies on the variational principle. The variational principle specifies the total potential of the system, given by a scalar quantity ?, which is defined by an integral form for a continuum problem. The solution of the continuum problem is a function that makes ? stationary with respect to the state variables. The governing equation of the problem is used to calculate the potential ?. The non-dimensional form of the potential is obtained by insertion of the defined non-dimensionless parameters. The element non-dimensional stiffness matrix and the non-dimensional load vectors are then obtained by invoking the stationarity of the non-dimensional potential ? with respect to a non-dimensional temperature vector {?}.