SKELETAL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS PACKAGE (SSAP)

Abstract

The M.E. dissertation work on the above mentioned topic deals with the integrated development of generalized pre-processor and post-processor for analysis of skeletal structural system. The software encompasses the concept of modular development. The Skeletal Systems Analysis Package (SSAP) has been divided into three (3) distinct modules - 1. Pre-processor Module 2. Analytical Module 3. Post-processor Module. In the pre-processor module, an efficient user friendly menu driven interface has been provided to facilitate the input of various structural system data , viz., nodal data, member or connectivity data, material data, load data etc. Facilities for automatic generation of nodal data and element or member data have been provided for regular structures. Graphical views of the structure selected for analysis are displayed to guide the end user effectively. Graphical views include- front view, top view, side view and inside view of any section in three orthogonal directions. The user will have the full liberty to modify any input data (entered by user or automatically generated by in built routines) at his will and that way the whole structural configuration. In analytical.module, the attempt has been made to keep the system open to any analysis program. The modular approach of development facilities interfacing of any analytical module to the system with little interfacing effort. There are provisions for direct entry of nodal or joint load and also to deal with inter nodal loads. Various patterns of inter nodal loadings are considered with graphic display for calculating equivalent joint load. In the Post-processor Module, graphical views have been given to the user, showing member end forces and deflected shape of the structure. The user can view any member with its connectivity and member end forces. The software SSAP has been implemented using different languages. The Pre-processor and Post-processor Modules have been written in C using Turbo C 2.0 compiler. The analytical module that has been coupled with the system at present is, in FORTRAN. The interfacing module for interfacing Pre-processor Module and Analytical Module has been written in BASIC using Turbo BASIC compiler. The software SSAP could be ran in IBM compatible machines (PC XT/AT's) with 8086, 80286, 80386 and 80486 microprocessor (with compatible numeric co-processor) and all currently popular graphic adapters. The software being developed encompasses an open ended hierarchical system of organisation i.e. full flexibility to append additional elements and solution schemes exist at each stage of development.