Version and configuration model for structural design objects: Design and implementation
This paper presents the design and implementation of a version and configuration model (VCM) for structural design objects. The VCM is developed to capture the incremental, evolutionary, multipath and iterative nature of the structural design process. Specifically, this model: (1) defines representational frameworks for representing the versions and configurations of design objects; (2) suggests sets of manipulation operations for creating and tracking the versions and configurations of design objects across the different representational frameworks; and (3) presents a prototype implementation scheme of a version manager, that is based on the representational frameworks and the manipulation operations of the proposed VCM. A case study of reinforced concrete T-beam is presented together with its prototype implementation using Object Pascal as a proof of concept. This is to describe the elements of the model, validate its effectiveness and demonstrate its viability. It is concluded that the VCM and its implementation is a valuable and necessary ingredient for developing a truly integrated structural engineering design system.
structural design computer models integrated systems computer aided design computer software computer applications