METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING OBJECTS HAVING OPTIMIZED RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS

A method for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto is provided. The method includes the step of designing a geometric model of the object. A computerized mathematical model of the object is generated by discretizing the geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of the elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at the nodes. A material property matrix [k] is then calculated based on the relationship {f}=[k] {x}. Material property coefficients are then extracted from the material property matrix [k] for each finite element in the computerized mathematical model and the extracted material property coefficients are compared to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials. Manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients are then determined. The object is then manufactured in accordance with the determined manufacturing parameters.