Accession Number:

ADA076573

Title:

Digitizing for Computer-Aided Finite Element Model Generation.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

ARIZONA UNIV TUCSON DEPT OF AEROSPACE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Kamel ,H. A.
• Navabi,Z.

Report Date:

1979-10-10

Pagination or Media Count:

35.0

Abstract:

For the purpose of this paper computer aided design is acknowledged as being a complex process involving many disciplines. This paper describes an approach to a specific discipline, that of structural analysis, which has evolved with the design process in mind. The vehicle for the implementation of this approach is a collection of programs developed over the last eight years at the University of Arizona, and called the GIFTS system. This paper briefly describes the latest version of the system, GIFTS-5, and demonstrates its suitability in a design environment by simple examples. The programs constituting the GIFTS system were used as a tool for research in many areas, including mesh generation, finite element data base design, interactive analysis, numerical analysis, as well as digitization. The last sections describe a newly developed digitizing program aimed at facilitating the preparation of input describing complex two-dimensional models for the GIFTS mesh generator. Modern analysis methods, of which the finite element is a prime example, permit the engineer to analyze most types of structures under a variety of loads. Although this is valid in principle, many practical considerations are involved which may influence the desirability and practicality of a computer analysis.

Descriptors:

• *COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN
• *STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
• DATA BASES
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
• STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
• COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
• COMPUTER GRAPHICS
• DIGITAL SIMULATION

Subject Categories:

• Computer Programming and Software
• Structural Engineering and Building Technology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE