A VRML interface for a knowledge-based structural design system

A variety of computer technologies have been applied to the field of civil engineering today. Visualization of structural design results focuses on geometry, modeling and simulation, ranging from static 2D images to dynamic 3D graphics. In recent years, advancements in multimedia, virtual reality and the Internet have given new prospects to visual aids for structural design. This paper presents the initial results of modeling steel structures in a virtual reality environment for interactive design examination and evaluation. Structural building designs are generated by a knowledge-based design system and converted to VRML models automatically, which allows 3D steel frames to be observed in Web browsers. Geometry and connective relations can be examined in arbitrary directions while the user walks through a scene, and detailed structural analysis and design results can be queried by touching the structural elements