COMPOUND CURVE-FLAT PATTERN PROCESS

Flat pattern equivalents for curved surfaces may be generated by developing a regular network of quadrilateral grid elements resembling a fish net which is mathematically smoothed onto the curved surface. Surface features such as boundaries and cutouts are mapped onto the network. The network is then transformed onto a flat mapping plane to form a grid in a manner analagous to smoothing a fish net mesh onto a flat surface. The surface features are then transformed to the flat surface grid. Individual plies or parts are then cut based upon the flat patterns. The plies or parts will conform to the curved surface exactly.