Surface modeling in AutoCAD for architectural and structural design

Abstract

The article considers surface modeling as the main tool for designing complex thin-walled structures, which are used in modern construction, architecture, and AutoCAD design. When constructing objects, we expanded on the formation of associative planar and network surfaces as well as extruded, lofted, rotated, and closed surfaces. We described automatic editing of associative surfaces that results from changes in forming lines. We considered the options of the command Trim on the cutting edges of other objects which can be intersecting surfaces, and also the projected geometry as applied to surfaces. We described the application of the Project geometry command in any direction as a tool for forming cutting edges, for marking curvilinear surfaces with a geometrically accurate design, and for obtaining 3D curves as the basis for other surfaces constructing. We considered 3D align for simultaneous moving and rotating of an object in order to align it with another object. An example of the photorealistic visualization of objects with lighting, shadow creation, and material assignment was given. The article shows civil engineering students and design engineers how surfaces can be modeled in AutoCAD, which is one of the most flexible technologies for creating 3D surface shapes.