A system for multibody analysis based on object-relational database technology

An efficient support for computational technology and information management will be critical in future Engineering Information Systems (EIS). This paper shows how it is possible to provide efficient data management capabilities to the discipline of Multibody System (MBS) analysis. The MECHAMOS prototype of a MBS analysis tool has been developed that is based on an object-relational database management system, AMOS, which has been extended with additional mathematical functionality by the use of Matlab and MapleV as computational engines. The MBS model is represented as a database model in AMOS and the analysis is based on symbolic formulation of Kane's equations of motion. With this configuration, data is made fully accessible via the AMOSQL query language of AMOS. Furthermore, by providing the MBS application with general database technology, the data management will be more efficient in terms of handling large amounts of data and the development and maintenance of MBS analysis systems. Since MBS models are represented in a "neutral format", the reusability of these models increases and they will be more persistent to changes in the EIS environment. (C) 2000 Civil-Comp Ltd. and Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.