Finite-Element Graphic Objects in C++

Abstract

This technical note describes the design and application of a group of graphical finite-element object classes that were developed using the object-oriented approach and were implemented in C++. These object classes were designed to encapsulate the characteristics of finite-element objects and corresponding graphic drawing functionalities. Thus, graphic functionalities can be incorporated easily into a finite-element analysis program by the selective use of these object classes. Extension of these object classes can lead to new finite elements with different functional and graphical characteristics. A windows-based finite-element analysis program with an interactive graphic user interface was developed using these object classes as basic building blocks. The inheritance feature of the object-oriented programming (OOP), which allows some codes of existing classes to be reused, was utilized to simplify the programming process. To demonstrate the reusability and extendability characteristics of the object classes, a different finite-element analysis program was coded by using the same object classes.