OPTIMUM DESIGN OF FINITE ELEMENT SOFTWARE SUBJECT TO CORE RESTRICTIONS. TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 4

Writing general purpose application code for mini-computers and time-sharing systems requires a carefully chosen compromise between program performance and conservation of computer resources. This report addresses itself to the design and implementation of such systems with special reference to the GIFTS 4 finite element package. The methods employed to design and implement the system are described. The stiffness assembly module of GIFTS is chosen as an illustration, and efforts aimed at speeding it up are described in detail, thus providing a representative case history. Results of similar efforts, involving other GIFTS modules, are presented. General guidelines are drawn, which should be of help to those attempting similar objectives. The paper is intended for engineering software designers, rather than for computer scientists, for whom some of the contents may seem obvious.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • To be presented at the Symposium on Future Trends on Computerized Structural Analysis and Synthesis, to be held October 30-November 1, 1978. Will be published in Symposium proceedings.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Arizona, Tucson

  Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  Tucson, AZ  United States  85721
• Authors:
  • Kamel, H A
  • McCabe, M W
  • DeShazo, P G
• Publication Date: 1978-4-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 51 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer graphics; Computer programs; Data management; Dynamic loads; Finite element method; Information processing; Structural analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic response
• Old TRIS Terms: Computer programs (Structural analysis)
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00177409
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Office of Naval Research
• Report/Paper Numbers: N00014-75-C-0837
• Contract Numbers: N00014-75-C-0837
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 19 1978 12:00AM