A modeling framework for controlling structural idealizations in engineering design

Abstract The process of controlling analysis idealizations as they are used during engineering design is considered. The framework of a modeling system that supports various levels of analysis idealization control is presented and a prototype implementation of such a system is described. The application of this system is stress analysis as applied in the design of two-dimensional brackets. The analysis idealizations supported include geometric simplification and mesh discretization error control. The analysis idealization control techniques employed include automated adaptive analysis, analytic solutions to idealized situations, and rules based on known and reasonable limits.