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Civil-Comp Proceedings
ISSN 1759-3433
CCP: 6
THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES TO CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Edited by: B.H.V. Topping
Paper III.2

A Knowledge-Based Approach to Structural Design

B. Kumar*, P.W.H. Chung+, R.H. Rae+ and B.H.V. Topping*

*Department of Civil Engineering
+Artificial Intelligence Applications Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper
B. Kumar, P.W.H. Chung, R.H. Rae, B.H.V. Topping, "A Knowledge-Based Approach to Structural Design", in B.H.V. Topping, (Editor), "The Application of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Civil and Structural Engineering", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, pp 79-92, 1987. doi:10.4203/ccp.6.3.2
Abstract
The application of knowledge-based techniques to computer-aided structural design have recently received increasing attention. This paper presents a brief overview of some of the existing and proposed knowledge-based systems for structural design in civil engineering. Their main features and shortcomings are identified by examining the concepts involved in their development. INDEX, a knowledge-based system for the design of industrial buildings, is outlined. Knowledge representation issues are discussed and a domain-independent representation of structural design entities proposed. Examples are given to illustrate how the blackboard architecture of INDEX allows the knowledge modules surrounding it to communicate with each other. The use of the Edinburgh Prolog Blackboard Shell in the development of INDEX is explained. The implementation of INDEX is summarised and some representative production rules given. Some advantages and disadvantages of using the shell are also described briefly.

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