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Session 1268

Direct Manipulation Visualization of the Behavior of Framed Structures in the ‘Dr. Frame’ Environment

Michael D. Rucki, Prof. Gregory R. Miller*, Stephen C. Cooper* Dr. Software, LLC / *University of Washington

Introduction Dr. Frame, developed by Dr.Software, LLC, is a direct manipulation modeling environment for exploring the behavior of frame and truss membered structures. The Dr. Frame environment is presented in this paper in terms of its educational value to both instructors and students.

About Dr.Frame: Direct Manipulation Modeling of Frame Structures The Dr. Frame modeling environment, available in Macintosh and Windows versions, simulates a two-dimensional structural testing laboratory in which users can interactively build and test model structures in quasi real-time. Dr. Frame provides immediate visual and numerical feedback of the primary quantities of engineering interest: displacement, internal forces, and reactions. Like its predecessor, Dr. Beam [Miller and Cooper, 1995, Cooper and Miller, 1996], the interface has been designed so that Dr. Frame's use is analogous to using a basic drawing program. Model generation and manipulation is accomplished visually, using readily available tools and mouse actions. Dr. Frame is capable of solving quasi-static, linear problems, with the notable feature that solution updating is handled automatically, and details of solution are completely transparent to the user.

This next-generation tool for engineering education provides several benefits. The Dr. Frame environment blurs the distinction between presentation or drafting software and numerical computational programs. By removing this traditional yet arbitrary segregation of exploration and design from analysis, Dr. Frame delivers to students a new level of understanding and affords them confidence to explore beyond the traditional scope of engineering education. To instructors, Dr. Frame offers a dynamic classroom laboratory where concepts can be introduced, problems can be posed, and solutions presented.

The Dr.Frame Modeling Environment A screen shot of the Dr. Frame modeling environment is shown in Figure 1. A simple truss model is being analyzed with most display options turned off to avoid clutter. As shown, the Dr. Frame window consists of a main viewing pane, a toolbar, and a status/feedback pane at the bottom of the window. The main viewing pane itself can be subdivided. The primary view of the structure is on the left. This is the view which the user manipulates and modifies. For clarity this figure does not show the displaced state of the structure, but it possible – and frequently useful – to superimpose displacements on this main view of the structure. The

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Cooper, S. C., & Rucki, M. D., & Miller, G. R. (1998, June), Direct Manipulation Visualization Of The Behavior Of Framed Structures In The Dr. Frame+R[33]C Environment Paper presented at 1998 Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/1-2--7048