A New Interface Methodology for Microcomputer Based Structural Analysis Programs

微型计算机的广泛使用以及结构工程师对在结构设计中需要考虑动态效应的认识的提高，产生了对能够模拟建筑物中的动态效应的结构工程软件的需求。在大型主机上开发的ETABS程序可以提供工程师所需的建模能力。向结构工程界提供ETABS的第一步是将其从大型计算机环境转换到个人计算机环境，这一点已经部分实现。但在转换过程中，保留了原有的批次类型输入定义方式。这种类型的问题定义方法冗长且容易出错。为了使ETABS成为一个广泛使用的实用工具，应该利用最新的交互式计算机图形学技术来促进数据的输入和输出过程。拟议的研究将应用目前正在开发的一系列计算机图形用户界面实用程序，将ETABS的数据输入和输出过程从批处理模式转变为完全交互的图形程序。以下目标将指导拟议的研究：1.生成的软件应在PC-AT环境下运行。2.输入和输出过程都将通过菜单驱动的图形交互方式进行。3.屏幕上的帮助信息应可用。4.生成的软件应可移植到其他工程工作站配置。5.所开发的前后处理工具应适用于类似的批处理结构分析程序。建议将PC-AT环境作为目标硬件配置，以使本研究的最终产品能够为尽可能多的工程师所用。

The widespread availability of micro-computers together with an increase in the awareness of structural engineers of the need to consider dynamic effects in the design of structures, has created a need for structural engineering software capable of modelling dynamic effects in buildings. The ETABS Program developed on a large mainframe can provide the modelling capability required by engineers. The first step to make ETABS available to the structural engineering community is to convert it from a large computer environmental to the personal computer, this has already been partially achieved. However, in the conversion, the original batch-type input definition method was retained. This type of problem definition approach is tedious and error prone. To make ETABS a practical tool with widespread use, the data input and data output process should be facilitated using the latest techniques of interactive computer graphics. The research proposed will apply a series computer graphics user-interface utilities that are currently under development to transform the data input and output process of ETABS from a batch mode to a fully interactive graphical procedure. The following objectives will guide the proposed research: 1. The resulting software should run in a PC-AT environment. 2. Both the input and output process will be through a menu- driven graphical interactive approach. 3. On-screen help information should be available. 4. The resulting software should be transportable to other engineering workstation configurations. 5. The pre- and post-processor tools developed should be applicable to similar batch oriented structural analysis programs. The PC-AT environment is proposed as the target hardware configuration to make the end product of this research available to as many engineers as possible.