Computer Aided Design

This book presents modern software technology and the tools necessary for teaching computer aided design and developing application software in the area of engineering design.The C programming language is presented and its importance for developing efficient and portable software is highlighted. Programming for graphics is described using the Graphical Kernel System, and drafting is illustrated through the package AutoCAD. Database structures and database mana-gement techniques are introduced to meet the needs of appli-cation programmers. Knowledge-based expert systems are pre-sented with illustrations to show the potential use of this AI technology for engineering design. Finite element analy-sis provides powerful numerical techniques for engineering analysis, and widely used packages are discussed. Optimiza-tion techniques can help the engineer arrive at an economi-cal design solution, and a brief description is given of so-mewidely used numerical algorithms. Typical CAD applica-tions are described, with references, and integrated softwa-re requirements for CAD are discussed.In addition to the examples in the text, exercises are given at the end of each chapter to provide experience in using the tools presented for the development of CAD software.