File Based Input and Results Database for «Focus Konstruksjon» Structural Analysis Software

Abstract

To assure that Focus Software continues to be competitive in the construction market with their software Focus Konstruksjon, the software had to undergo changes related to data processing. The users are today modelling and simulating complex constructions without the ability to store their results. This thesis identifies the implementation of a file based system as the solution to this challenge.

The master thesis began with researching the field for both pre-processing and post-processing file formats, respectively the input and the output format for the file based system. The evaluation of these findings resulted in the development of a system which utilizes the Usfos and the VTK format. The system development process included code base familiarizing, prototyping, a test driven development approach, testing of the system, and an implementation of the file based system into Focus Konstruksjon.

The file based system now allows users to store their results, enabling visualization of their result databases without having to re-run the structural analysis. This generalization of data processing is beneficial for Focus Konstruksjon in future development, testing and maintenance, because of looser couplings and a more readable data structure. The system is implemented for linear structural analysis, and will in the future be integrated into other structural analyses provided by Focus Konstruksjon.

The deliverables of this thesis is the written thesis and its research, the code of the file based system, tests, documentation and recommendations for future work of Focus Konstruksjon.