Mechanical analysis of composite materials by using object-oriented approach.

A trial development of an expert system for the mechanical analysis of composite materials is performed using an obJect-oriented approach. A knowledgebase is constructed for fibrous laminated composites by making appropriate classes and their hierarchical structure. The concepts for making classes and messages are described. Methods for dealing with synonymic massages and for dealing with dimensions such as those of stress, strain, modulus, and compliance are proposed. An example for calculating the stiffness, the compliance, and the strain under an in-plane load is presented and the proposed expert system is found to be useful for the analysis and design of composite structures.