SMATS: Sketch-Based Modeling and Analysis of Truss Systems

The present work intends to introduce a domain-specific sketch method for modeling and analysis of forms and structures concurrently. The approach adopted particularly addresses architects, aiming to provide a natural environment for them to present and appraise structural configurations of different truss systems by means of sketching. This is achieved by developing Sketch-based Modeling and Analysis of Truss Systems “SMATS”; a user interface (UI) which provides an iterative environment, in which structural behavior of the sketched configuration is modeled in real-time. Gesture recognition is applied to extract data for a structural analysis program. The results are then brought back to the same user interface for visualization. Moreover, the interactive environment of the UI allows the user to manipulate the design and observe the outcome of changes on the truss structural behavior. Iterative usage of the method will give architects engineering perspective about the class of structures used here. The approach is intended to optimize the conceptual design of trusses by bridging architectural vision in creating forms and the engineering analysis. It also helps architects gain better understanding of the effect of variation in form on structural behavior of trusses.