Interactive Nonlinear Structural Analysis: Enhancement.

GIST is a system for performing Nonlinear Finite-Element Structural Analysis in an Interactive, Graphics-Oriented computational environment. The system constitutes a network of integrated software processors, i.e., independently executable computer programs, collectively referred to as the GIFTSSTAGS Software Assembly, or more concisely as GIST. This network is analogous to a computer operating system, which enables the user to perform a wide variety of operations accessible through a common command or control language. Many of these operations are actually performed by independent processors which are linked through a global database to behave as an integrated system. Thus, GIST may be regarded as a special-purpose or virtual operating system for structural analysis, where instead of text editors, compilers and file handlers, GIST employs model editors, structural analyzers and solution post-processors as basic components. Furthermore, the user addresses the GIST operating system in a Problem-Oriented Command Language, and is free by virtue of the global database to exercise the system in a reasonably arbitrary fashion, with frequent stops and restarts.