OBJECT-ORIENTED BLACKBOARD MODELS FOR INTEGRATED DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES

An object-oriented model-based approach is presented for the integrate d design of large structures consisting of hundreds or thousands of me mbers. We model the problem of integrated design of large structures b y a hierarchy of cooperating knowledge bases. A dynamic knowledge iden tification and isolation (DKII) strategy is developed for effective ma nagement of knowledge bases (KBs). For efficient storage of KBs, a hie rarchical arrangement in the form of a knowledge storage pyramid (KSP) is created. An inheritance gene object-oriented programming (IGOOP) m odel is presented for constructing the hierarchical relationship among KBs through a rule-based KB allocation technique. An object-oriented blackboard model (OOBM) is developed where the blackboard verifies the attributes of each specialist (KB) dynamically operates on each KB, a nd monitors continuously the contributions generated by each KB. The m ajor components of OOBM are described. The models and concepts develop ed in this research are applied to the design of steel structures. Cop yright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.