OSW: Object Structural Workbench - is a toolkit developing object oriented modeling applications in structural engineering. An OSW modeling application is a C++ graphics program which carries out numerical analysis and visualization of structural models. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the OSW classes and show how to employ such classes for developing structural modeling applications. Initially, we will introduce preliminary concepts of modeling, analysis and structural visualization, from which we will define the components of a generic modeling application. Next, we will describe the OSW main classes functionality, and we will emphasize the use of such classes in the construction of a particular application, from geometric modeling to visualization of the structure and structure analysis results. In order to show how OSW works, we will explain the necessary steps for developing a finite element analysis application of elastic thin shells. We will conclude the paper pointing out our work contributions and discussing other possibilities of application of the toolkit.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £75 +P&P)