Paradigms for Employing Interactive Computing Tools and Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) in Structural Engineering Problems

Fawad Ahmed Najam, Rao Arsalan Khushnood, Syed Ali Rizwan
2016 International Journal of Engineering and Technology  
The development of intelligent computational tools provides new opportunities to exploit various potentialities of computers. Many fields have taken significant advantage of the recent advancements in computing technology to adapt, apply and enhance the way people learn and solve real-world problems. In this paper, three case studies are presented which show how the development of knowledge-based computer applications can be handy to both understand and solve structural engineering numerical
more » ... blems. Moreover, such tools can be useful teaching aids and can facilitate interactive learning techniques being used across the globe. The first case study application is a graphical user interface (GUI) developed in MATLAB 2009 environment for dynamic analysis of a generalized single degree of freedom system against specified force vector or ground motion. The second example is from the field of reinforced concrete design developed in Visual Basic environment for generating moment curvature relationship of reinforced concrete beams. The third case study application is also developed in MATLAB R2009a environment using GUIDE module to automate a recently proposed empirical method of concrete mix design. These interfaces are developed in a simple and interactive manner for convenient visualization of complete step-by-step process aiming not only to provide an easy tool for what-if analysis, but also to develop a learning attitude among the end users. Index Terms-Computational tools, visual basic, computer applications, structural engineering, mix design, MATLAB, GUI. Fawad A. Najam is a current doctoral student at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. He received his BS degree in civil engineering from University of Engineering and Technology (UET, Taxila) and MS degree in structural engineering from National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. His areas of interests include earthquake engineering and structural dynamics, seismic performance evaluation of tall buildings, structural engineering software development, numerical analysis, high-performance cementitious systems and finite element programming. He has an experience of 5 years in academia working at various appointments including research associate, teaching assistant, laboratory engineer and lecturer of civil engineering at various academic institutes in Pakistan and Thailand. He has participated actively in various private and public sector projects strengthening the academia-industry linkages in Pakistan while working at National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). Currently, he is associated with AIT Consulting, an international consulting and research organization at Asian Institute Technology (AIT) Thailand, creating a link between AIT and public by providing a wide range of consulting services in engineering, technology, environment, development and management.
doi:10.7763/ijet.2016.v6.853 fatcat:ij2a2txfvbgc3hvk3jrxhbjcz4