Computer-Aided Model Generation for Nonlinear Structural Analysis Using a Structural Component Model Database

Abstract

This paper presents an approach for efficiently building analytical models for nonlinear analysis. The objective has been achieved by establishing structural component model database by collecting various structural component models addressing various structural details. A common data structure and a relational database schema for storing structural component models were proposed in this study. The proposed structural component model database can serve as a decision supporting system for building nonlinear analytical models manually. In addition, the modeling information stored in this database can be presented in XML document format to be parsed and manipulated by computer system for generating nonlinear analytical model in file automatically. A school building database is used as a case study to show the feasibility of automatic modeling for nonlinear analysis using the proposed structural component database. A semiautomatic model generation system was developed to provide an efficient modeling process, which is in the manner of form filling and option selecting on web-based user interfaces, so that the model builder can focus on making engineering decisions. The modeling details are handled automatically by the proposed system based on user selection and setting.