Implementation of inverse motion form finding in commercial software

Abstract: This Masters' dissertation investigates the possibility of implementing the concept of inverse motion form finding in a commercial software. The inverse motion approach finds the initial, undeformed geometry of a design such that it obtains its desired design shape when service loads are exerted on the design. The implementation is limited to static mechanical loads on three-dimensional geometries. A previously developed non-commercial code was used for verification of the implementation by comparison of nodal values. The implementation was deemed successful and thus the code could be used for further development. Several examples of applications for the inverse motion form finding model are presented. The examples are simplified but show that the model could be used in both high- and low-technology products and in components commonly used by multiple industries.