Extensive Structural Optimization Design Based On Scientific Visualization

Research work on structural optimization is mainly concentrated on theories and methodologies during the past three decades. It is still far away from practical appliance in engineering. Therefore, to develop an integrated software system based on the technique of scientific visualization, and enable the visualization to be utilized in optimization will be considerably beneficial to the application of optimization in engineering. Based on the analysis of system of the structural optimization and scientific visualization, the framework of software system based on scientific visualization is designed in detail. Then the paper presents how to build the key database of the software, such as geometrical structural model database, FEM database and optimization model database. The paper presents how to use the technique of OLE and ARX of AutoCAD to build the geometrical model, the finite element model of the given structure visually and use the template and wizard to build the optimization model of it. During the iterative process of the optimization, the method of tracing visualization and interactive control is also provided. Some examples are given to show the appliance of visualization aided structural optimization. Finally, the work of systematic integration is carried out. A software system based on scientific visualization named extensive structural optimization design is successfully developed.