Multimedia Approach to Case‐Based Structural Design

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Abstract
Case‐based reasoning provides an approach to the reuse of previous design experience through the storage, retrieval, and adaptation of specific design projects. One of the major issues to be addressed in the application of case‐based reasoning to structural design is the representation of design projects in case memory. This representation provides the basis for reasoning about retrieval and adaptation. A schema for representing structural design projects that includes the function and behavior of the structure as well as geometry is required for a flexible indexing system that can identify a relevant case. A multimedia representation provides the visualization of the structure that augments the symbolic indexing schema. The implementation of a multimedia database with a flexible indexing schema involves a heterogeneous environment that combines object‐oriented representations and CAD systems. A prototype of a case‐based system aimed at evaluating the potential of the combined multimedia and case‐based‐reasoning technologies to assist structural designers at conceptual design stage is presented.