Information Technology of Automation of Search Support for Design Solutions of Steel Structures
As a result of the analysis of the process of steel structures designing and the study of factors influencing on the quality of design solutions, it is concluded that the further development and implementation of computer-aided design makes it possible to reduce the labor-cost of designers and improve the quality and validity of design solutions. A functional scheme of the process of steel structures designing is considered; with due regard for this scheme, three basic systems, optimization of design solutions at the stage of variant designing, imitation simulation, and development of specialized program modules automating the solution of problems of synthesis, analysis and selection of design solutions for steel structures, are determined. The integration of these systems into a unified information technology is the methodology of automated search for support of design solutions for steel structures. The author presents a functional diagram of the design process, consisting of three blocks - regulatory, operational and constructive. A structure model of information technology, which can be used as a base for development of independent software tools utilizing the developed algorithms for solving local engineering problems, is presented.