Traditional Computer-aided Design Research Articles

Computer-Aided Design of Peptides for Suppressing Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a fundamental process in cellular biology, critical for the formation of membraneless organelles. Dysregulation of LLPS is linked to various diseases, highlighting the need for targeted therapeutics. Traditional computer-aided drug design has struggled to address LLPS due to the involvement of intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). In this study, we identified a peptide derived from the low-complexity (LC) region of FUS, with serine-to-glutamic acid mutations (S2E), which significantly suppresses LC phase separation. GPU-based molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the interaction between S2E and LC is essential for their suppressive effect. Inspired by this finding, we proposed a strategy that employs multivalent interactions to design peptides capable of inhibiting phase separation. As a proof of concept, we engineered peptides that combine the LARKS domain from FUS-LC with an E-rich sequence from HSP90, yielding two potent peptides. These peptides effectively inhibit phase separation, as validated by both computer simulation and experimental data. Our findings provide a new avenue for the primary design of peptides aimed at controlling phase separation and protein aggregation, with potential applications in therapeutic development for LLPS-related diseases.

Precise tooth design using deep learning-based templates

ObjectivesIn prosthodontic procedures, traditional computer-aided design (CAD) is often time-consuming and lacks accuracy in shape restoration. In this study, we combined implicit template and deep learning (DL) to construct a precise neural network for personalized tooth defect restoration. MethodsNinety models of right maxillary central incisor (80 for training, 10 for validation) were collected. A DL model named ToothDIT was trained to establish an implicit template and a neural network capable of predicting unique identifications. In the validation stage, teeth in validation set were processed into corner, incisive, and medium defects. The defective teeth were inputted into ToothDIT to predict the unique identification, which actuated the deformation of the implicit template to generate the highly customized template (DIT) for the target tooth. Morphological restorations were executed with templates from template shape library (TSL), average tooth template (ATT), and DIT in Exocad (GmbH, Germany). RMSestimate, width, length, aspect ratio, incisal edge curvature, incisive end retraction, and guiding inclination were introduced to assess the restorative accuracy. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way ANOVA and paired t-test for overall and detailed differences. ResultsDIT displayed significantly smaller RMSestimate than TSL and ATT. In 2D detailed analysis, DIT exhibited significantly less deviations from the natural teeth compared to TSL and ATT. ConclusionThe proposed DL model successfully reconstructed the morphology of anterior teeth with various degrees of defects and achieved satisfactory accuracy. This approach provides a more reliable reference for prostheses design, resulting in enhanced accuracy in morphological restoration. Clinical significanceThis DL model holds promise in assisting dentists and technicians in obtaining morphology templates that closely resemble the original shape of the defective teeth. These customized templates serve as a foundation for enhancing the efficiency and precision of digital restorative design for defective teeth.

Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency through Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Building Energy Modeling (BEM) Integration: A Systematic Review

With the ever-increasing population and historic highest energy demand, the energy efficiency of buildings is becoming crucial. Architectural firms are moving from traditional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to BIM. However, nearly 40% of the energy consumption is due to buildings. Therefore, there is a need to integrate BIM with Building Energy Modeling (BEM), which presents an innovative opportunity to demonstrate the potential of BIM to minimize energy consumption by integrating building information software with data from existing energy-efficient building automation systems (EBAS). BEM is a form of computational analysis that can be used in conjunction with BIM or Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) systems. In this paper, an attempt has been made to explore the existing literature on BIM and BEM and identify the effect of the integration of BEM in BIM in the design phase of the project. A recent survey from the last ten years (2012 to 2023) was carried out on Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, and papers were scrutinized. From the results, it can be observed that the convergence of BIM and BEM is found to be useful in practical applications; however, projects with short life cycles might not be suitable for this solution. Challenges exist in the interoperability tools which have restrictions on data exchange. Binary translation is found to be the most suitable candidate for data exchange. The analysis further showed that the most used program for integrating BIM/BEM is Green Building Studio developed by Autodesk to improve construction and operational efficiencies.

Multimodal Interaction Grammar Analysis Based on Two-Stage User-Based Elicitation in 3D Modeling

Traditional computer-aided design (CAD) tools based on keyboard and mouse interactions present challenges to efficiency and quality in terms of free creation, iteration efficiency, and operational experience. This paper proposes a multimodal interactive guiding grammar framework for virtual-reality modeling scenarios. In studies on the characteristics of multimodal combinations, the present heuristic method leads to a high cognitive load and experimental cost, and the heuristic is difficult. Therefore, we propose a two-stage heuristic method. Subsequently, we use this method to decompose the interaction task into two stages: modalities and interactive operations. A clearer and more specific reference for multimodal selection is provided for the interaction design phase, based on the two dimensions of modality and task. This can reduce the heuristic cost and difficulty of users in completing tasks in multimodal interaction scenarios. Finally, the proposed virtual modeling platform which is used for experimental verification, and the results shows that, compared with traditional modeling, the interactive modeling method built according to the results of modal interaction in this study can better satisfy users in terms of emotional experience. In the index evaluation, high scores are achieved, with an average score of 5 points (1 and 7 are the lowest and highest scores of the evaluation index, respectively), and the large-area distribution of high scores also shows a good user experience. To a certain extent, this method improves the interaction mode of the previous 3D modeling.

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Tools and methods used by architects always had an impact on the way buildings were designed. With the change in design methods and new approaches towards creation process, they became more than ever before crucial elements of the creation process. The automation of architects’ work has started with computational functions that were introduced to traditional computer-aided design tools. While these high-tech computers aren't good enough for some ideas, you'll have to rely on human intelligence. However, they can be used to save a lot of time by completing some time-consuming tasks and we can use that time to create some other designs. The geometry and efficient use of the space, building material amounts, wind patterns, load bearing weights, and even foot traffic are all areas ripe for AI.

Discovery of Novel c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase 1 Inhibitors from Natural Products: Integrating Artificial Intelligence with Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Biological Evaluation.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) is currently considered a critical therapeutic target for type-2 diabetes. In recent years, there has been a great interest in naturopathic molecules, and the discovery of active ingredients from natural products for specific targets has received increasing attention. Based on the above background, this research aims to combine emerging Artificial Intelligence technologies with traditional Computer-Aided Drug Design methods to find natural products with JNK1 inhibitory activity. First, we constructed three machine learning models (Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and Artificial Neural Network) and performed model fusion based on Voting and Stacking strategies. The integrated models with better performance (AUC of 0.906 and 0.908, respectively) were then employed for the virtual screening of 4112 natural products in the ZINC database. After further drug-likeness filtering, we calculated the binding free energy of 22 screened compounds using molecular docking and performed a consensus analysis of the two methodologies. Subsequently, we identified the three most promising candidates (Lariciresinol, Tricin, and 4′-Demethylepipodophyllotoxin) according to the obtained probability values and relevant reports, while their binding characteristics were preliminarily explored by molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, we performed in vitro biological validation of these three compounds, and the results showed that Tricin exhibited an acceptable inhibitory activity against JNK1 (IC50 = 17.68 μM). This natural product can be used as a template molecule for the design of novel JNK1 inhibitors.

A Simple and Effective Modeling Method for 3D Porous Irregular Structures

Porous structures are kinds of structures with excellent physical properties and mechanical characteristics through components and internal structure. However, the irregular internal morphology of porous structures poses new challenges to product modeling techniques. Traditional computer-aided design (CAD) modeling methods can only represent the external geometric and topological information of models, lacking the description of the internal structure and conformation, which limits the development of new porous products. In this paper, a new simple and effective modeling method for 3D irregular porous structures is proposed, which improves the controllability of pore shape and porosity, thus overcoming the limitations of existing methods in 3D and concave structures. The key idea is to solve isothermal for modeling the porosity of porous units. Experimental results show that the method can easily obtain smooth and approximate porous structures from arbitrary irregular 3D surfaces.

Research on Energy-Saving Design Method of Green Building Based on BIM Technology

In view of the shortcomings of the traditional architectural design mode, such as high rework rate in the construction process and lack of collaborative design and intelligent information processing, a green building energy-saving design method based on BIM technology was proposed. Based on the comparative analysis of traditional computer-aided building design and BIM green building technology, the overall scheme of energy-saving design was constructed from the aspects of green building design principle, design preparation, and design concept. This paper expounded the connotation of energy-saving design elements from the aspects of modeling software selection, envelope energy-saving design, and lighting energy-saving design. Accordingly, the characteristics and process of building energy efficiency analysis based on BIM were proposed. Finally, the energy-saving effect evaluation method of green building based on BIM was given, and an example showed that the energy-saving design method of green building based on BIM proposed in this paper had good feasibility and effectiveness. The method proposed in this paper can provide a certain theoretical basis and application support for the application of BIM technology in the field of green building.

Application of BIM technology in safety management of construction engineering

In recent years, my country has made great breakthroughs in technical construction technology. B.IM is a new technology that has emerged [1] The most emerging solution has solved the role of safety management in construction projects. In the process of construction engineering, safety management bears the brunt of construction safety. It all depends on how well its foundation is built. However, for the safety of construction engineering, China still has a higher defense against BI M technology. It is just from a planning design. From the construction to the management stage, a unified and coordinated process. In order to better realize the construction project, the B IM technology is adopted, which seems to be a simple 3D 4D file. In fact, BM is not only convenient to use, but also extremely safe. The building information model is used by the digital building director to express that the construction of buildings in the world is simpler and more convenient than the traditional design for the use of traditional computer-aided design. Compared with traditional design, BIM can provide accurate information. Responsibilities of each participant of the project during their respective operation and work, responsible for the information they possess to add reasonable application of this building information model.

Generative Design of a Mechanical Pedal

Nowadays, there are various tools that support the initial stages of design available to use for engineers, the traditional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) has been implemented in the engineering components design and replaced manual drafting. However, with the advances and the rapid technology development, new trends emerged to cope with this evolution, namely, Generative Design, Topology Optimization, and Generative Engineering Design. The method is based on numerical algorithms that generate a variety of design and modelling options based on the criteria and constraints set by the designer to allow further design exploration. Proposed in this paper is an implementation of the generative design of a mechanical pedal with further finite element analysis.

CACDA: A knowledge graph for a context-aware cognitive design assistant

The design of complex engineered systems highly relies on a laborious zigzagging between computer-aided design (CAD) software and design rules prescribed by design manuals. Despite the emergence of knowledge management techniques (ontology, expert system, text mining, etc.), companies continue to store design rules in large and unstructured documents. To facilitate the integration of design rules and CAD software, we propose a knowledge graph that structures a large set of design rules in a computable format. The knowledge graph organises entities of design rules (nodes), relationships among design rules (edges), as well as contextual information. The categorisation of entities and relationships in four sub-contexts: semantic, social, engineering, and IT – facilitates the development of the data model, especially the definition of the “design context” concept. The knowledge graph paves the way to a context-aware cognitive design assistant. Indeed, connected to or embedded in a CAD software, a context-aware cognitive design assistant will capture the design context in near real time and run reasoning operations on the knowledge graph to extend traditional CAD capabilities, such as the recommendation of design rules, the verification of design solutions, or the automation of design routines. Our validation experiment shows that the current version of the context-aware cognitive design assistant is more efficient than the traditional document-based design. On average, participants using an unstructured design rules document have a precision of 0.36 whereas participants using our demonstrator obtain a 0.61 precision score. Finally, designers supported by the design assistant spend more time designing than searching for applicable design rules compared to the traditional design approach.

Constructing assembly design model capable of capturing and sharing semantic dynamic motion information in heterogeneous CAD systems

Over the last decades, collaborative assembly design has received much attention, which has provided fruitful results in terms of data models, knowledge-based, and top-down geometric modeling approaches, to name a few. Particularly, researchers have focused their efforts towards assembly relationships within product models, but have limited the scope to static assembly geometric description as currently stated in computer-aided design (CAD) systems. A disruptive vision is assumed in this research work, arguing that the assembly design itself presents a dynamic nature via, especially, dynamic motion. Such a paradigm shift requires an appropriate logical and semantic foundation to augment current CAD systems and data models’ capabilities with the capture of dynamic phenomena such as assembly motions and kinematic behaviors. Traditional CAD systems nowadays can handle the kinematics-related motion-related information; however, the interoperation of this motion-related information from one CAD system to the other is still a limitation of the interoperability standards. To tackle this research challenge, this paper aims at defining an original framework built upon a formal ontology to capture and share dynamic assembly motion among heterogeneous CAD systems. The formal ontology uses spatiotemporal mereotopology, which serves as a theoretical backbone to qualitatively describe the dynamic behavior of a product. This theory addresses the qualitative description of the temporal dimension over the spatial dimension of 3D objects. The proposed ontology is then enhanced to maintain semantic continuity of the spatial and temporal aspects embedded in assembly design ontology models. Built with a Web Ontology Language (OWL) data structure to interact with a CAD system and a motion visualization application, the ontology ensures the dynamic motion information capturing and sharing. SWRL (Semantic Web Rule Language) is utilized to show the semantic reasoning among the moving and non-moving parts of the product assembly. As a result, a semantic articulation ensuring flexibility and interoperability as a competitive industrial edge is demonstrated with proof of concept to be effective in a collaborative assembly design environment.

Analysis of Designer Emotions in Collaborative and Traditional Computer-Aided Design

Abstract We developed a new method to link designer emotions with corresponding designer activities while using computer-aided design (cad) software. Our method employs automated facial emotion detection software and cursor tracking. We applied this method via an experiment with nine participants, each working with the same synchronously collaborative cad platform, and assigned a series of cad tasks in one of two distinct working styles: single participants working by themselves and paired participants working together. We analyzed and compared trends in emotion for these two working styles. Pairs, on average per person, experienced higher levels of emotion (measured as joy, sadness, anger, contempt, fear, and surprise) than individuals. We linked occurrences of each emotional response to their antecedent activities in the cad environment (navigating the model tree, sketching in the graphics area, making selections in the feature menu, and communicating using the chat window). Using a logistic regression analysis, we revealed statistically significant trends linking emotions and cad events, and we found that some emotions are more likely to occur with certain designer actions in the cad software. The method and conclusions presented in this paper allow us to better understand designer emotions in traditional and collaborative cad, which link to the established relationships between emotion and designer satisfaction, creativity, performance, and other outcomes increasingly valued by engineering designers and managers in virtually collaborative environments.

BandWeavy: Interactive Modeling for Craft Band Design.

Traditional computer-aided design systems are mainly intended for expert users, but research involving systems incorporating computer graphics and interactive techniques that are easy to use by novices is also active. In this paper, we describe a design support system, BandWeavy, that can be used by a novice to easily design a craft band artwork using his or her desired pattern. We propose an algorithm that can automatically calculate cuboid and cylinder shapes according to the sizes desired by the users.

Building Information Modeling for Nonresidential Construction—An Industry Perspective

More than traditional computer-aided design (CAD), Building Information Modeling (BIM) can include a lot of additional information about the various products and systems in the design. It was noticed that BIM had unbalanced applications among different types of construction. BIM has been shown to provide a significant cost savings to the design firms and clients by its use in residential construction. Yet, it has limited use on a very small number of industrial construction projects. Rather than performing a theoretical cost analysis on BIM usage to prove that it could save project cost, this paper explores the specific benefits that BIM provides from an industry perspective, and see how they would translate to the industrial construction sector. To do this, BIM users in industrial and commercial construction are surveyed. The first-hand survey results revealed that the two biggest benefits to BIM are clash detection and the large amount of information it can provide to the entire stakeholder in the project. Comparing these benefits to the current practices used in the industrial engineering and construction field leads to the conclusion that, BIM usage is probably not worth the cost investment for these firms. There are some additional considerations as to why including BIM capabilities in a company’s profile would be a good option, but cost savings is not the most important.

Combining multimedia and self-assessment CAD tools in an interactive web environment to learn engineering drawing

ABSTRACTInteractive Web Environments and multimedia tools are very common in engineering studies. However, these resources are very limited when graphical resolution is needed during the learning process. A learning environment that combines video and self-assessment Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools was developed to analyse this problem and to determine if the combined use of these two tools may be important in learning these subjects. A comparative study of 124 engineering students was carried out. They were randomly assigned into three groups: Group-A using only traditional tools, Group-B using traditional tools and CAD tools, and Group-C using traditional tools, CAD tools, and video training. The statistical analysis of the results showed that a greater number of students of Group-C passed the test and improved their scores. Therefore, the combined use of these two types of resources can be an important aid in the study of subjects requiring graphic tools for their learning.

A systematic approach based on voxel modelling and APDL analysis for Functional-Graded-Material objects

With the development of additive manufacturing (AM), the Functional-Graded-Material (FGM) objects have gained great popularities and research interest in the past few decades. However, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of FGM objects are generally regarded as two separate domains. Such a separation causes that it is cumbersome for engineers to exchange the necessary information in the design process. In this paper, a systematic approach based on voxel modelling and ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) analysis for FGM objects is presented. Integrated solution to modelling and property analysis of FGM objects are gained to manufacture FGM objects. Traditional CAD file is imported to the proposed software (FGMD), then designer can choose heterogeneous features in FGMD. Finally, FGMD can output an APDL file which can be used for property analysis. Several examples show the validity of the systematic approach.

An interactive product customization framework for freeform shapes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish new computer-aided-design (CAD) framework to design custom product that is fabricated additive manufacturing (AM), which can produce complex three-dimensional (3D) object without additional tool or fixture. Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) objects with complex shapes without additional tools and refixturing. However, it is difficult for user to use traditional computer-aided design tools to design custom products.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors presented a design system to help user design custom 3D printable products based on some reference freeform shapes. The user can define and edit styling curves on the reference model using the interactive geometric operations for styling curve. Incorporating with the reference models, these curves can be converted into 3D printable models through the fabrication interface.FindingsThe authors tested their system with four design applications including a hollow patterned bicycle helmet, a T-rex with skin frame structure, a face mask with Voronoi patterns and an AM-specific night dress with hollow patterns.Originality/valueThe executable prototype of the presented design framework used in the customization process is publicly available.

Integration of Non-Destructive Evaluation-based Ultrasonic Simulation: A means for simulation in structural health monitoring

Simulation has become a prerequisite in engineering and science today for visualization of ideas and concepts. In non-destructive evaluation, simulation is increasingly used to show how an inspection method functions with regard to the component to be inspected and is even used for determining the probability of detection of a respective flaw with regard to the inspection method applied. Probability of detection in non-destructive evaluation is optimized in a way that the best sensor positions, as well as sensor tracking paths, can be found through simulation. In classical non-destructive evaluation, a transducer or transducer array can be virtually moved over the surface of a component to be inspected until a full capture of the component’s surface and hopefully volume is achieved in terms of the inspection process. However, with structural health monitoring, no movement of the transducers is possible in case those become an integral and hence fixed part of the component considered. Determining the optimum position of a respective structural health monitoring transducer network can therefore only be achieved through optimization procedures, where numerical simulation is possibly the only viable solution to get this done. Establishing a numerical simulation platform for structural health monitoring purposes has been the major objective of the recently completed INDEUS (Integration of Non-Destructive Evaluation-based Ultrasonic Simulation) project, which is described in this article. The open simulation platform includes different simulation tools, where the requirements and options for further extension of those tools and different test cases applied for validation so far are described. The target is to even simulate real complex structures such as applied in civil, aeronautical, and other engineering disciplines made of metallic and polymer-based monolithic and composite materials where the digital models are inherited from traditional computer-aided design and finite element–based designs. This lays the ground for determining the probability of damage for a given loading condition and structure, and the propagation of guided waves in the structure considered for an undamaged and a damage tolerant condition. From those simulation results, the determination of an optimum configuration of sensing transducers for a given set of actuating transducers is then shown for a guided wave–based structural health monitoring system solution to be designed allowing the tolerable damage to be detected reliably.

Programmatic generation of computationally efficient lattice structures for additive manufacture

PurposeAdditive manufacturing (AM) enables the fabrication of complex geometries beyond the capability of traditional manufacturing methods. Complex lattice structures have enabled engineering innovation; however, the use of traditional computer-aided design (CAD) methods for the generation of lattice structures is inefficient, time-consuming and can present challenges to process integration. In an effort to improve the implementation of lattice structures into engineering applications, this paper aims to develop a programmatic lattice generator (PLG).Design/methodology/approachThe PLG method is computationally efficient; has direct control over the quality of the stereolithographic (STL) file produced; enables the generation of more complex lattice than traditional methods; is fully programmatic, allowing batch generation and interfacing with process integration and design optimization tools; capable of generating a lattice STL file from a generic input file of node and connectivity data; and can export a beam model for numerical analysis.FindingsThis method has been successfully implemented in the generation of uniform, radial and space filling lattices. Case studies were developed which showed a reduction in processing time greater than 60 per cent for a 3,375 cell lattice over traditional CAD software.Originality/valueThe PLG method is a novel design for additive manufacture (DFAM) tool with unique advantages, including full control over the number of facets that represent a lattice strut, allowing optimization of STL data to minimize file size, while maintaining suitable resolution for the implemented AM process; programmatic DFAM capability that overcomes the learning curve of traditional CAD when producing complex lattice structures, therefore is independent of designer proficiency and compatible with process integration; and the capability to output both STL files and associated data for numerical analysis, a unique DFAM capability not previously reported.