Keywords: component, internet-based, platform, common interface, X-Internet, smart client, XML.

This paper presents component models for an internet-based platform to analyze structural systems. The component models were created hierarchically to decompose and simplify a whole structural system into multiple components. The component model was developed by organizing components with objects and object-groups. The use of component models may provide more flexibility in modifying and expanding the platform.

Since it is usually complicated to develop a computer aided engineering (CAE) software for structural analysis, the relationship between objects should be clearly defined. To set up the relationship between them properly and to react actively to any change in the whole or in any part of the components, it is desirable to use a re-usable and expandable component-based programming scheme. The re-usability and expandability of an internet-based platform may be dependent on the design of component interfaces, the classification of business logic, and how to design the scope of logical component and physical component [1]. A component can be developed and modified more efficiently if a common interface can be defined because a common interface can simplify the complicated calling processes between libraries. In Smart Client, a component is defined by a new terminology of assembly which contains various files and types necessary for the execution of the program. Each assembly is a minimal unit for version management, distribution, security management, joint ownership, and reuse [2].

Object-oriented programming is suitable to develop an expandable component-based platform. Each structural element can be represented as an object through generalization, refinement, and composition [3]. To design a structure properly, it is important to assess the adequacies of the applied design code, structural system, sectional and material properties, topology of the structure, and the correctness of stress calculation with loading and boundary conditions. Each of this fundamental information can be defined as an object and thus an assembly can be constructed by relating them. The created assemblies can represent a whole structure through the intimate relations of the objects.

XML WebService has been adopted in developing the internet-based platform. XML WebService makes it possible to examine an internet-based model and expand the functions of a platform through the distribution of assemblies. XML WebService can return only the necessary results selectively so that assemblies can be distributed economically. Since XML has been already adopted as a standard in continuous acquisition and life cycle support-electronic commerce (CALS-EC) of Korea for data acquisition and transmission between different types of platforms [4], hence it is expected to be utilized as a standard in unifying such a system in the future.

The efficiency of the internet-based platform developed has been examined through sample studies for the analysis of planar truss structures. The application areas of the currently developed platform are limited to the analysis of planar truss structures, but the platform can be extended to wider and more practical applications by simple modification and expansion.

1

S.H. Kim, "Effective Development and Re-use of .NET-based Components", MiscroSoftware, 2004.

2

Y.C. Kim, "Smart Client Programming with Windows Forms", MSDN Webcase, 2004.

3

J. Rumbaugh, M. Blaga, W. Premerlani, F. Eddy, and W. Lorensen, "Object-oriented modelling and design", Prentice-Hall, 1991.

4

Korean Construction CALS Association (http://www.cals.or.kr)

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 £105 +P&P)