WBCSim: A Prototype Problem Solving Environment for Wood-Based Composites Simulations

Goel, A and Phanouriou, C and Kamke, A and Ribbens, J and Shaffer, A and Watson, T (1998) WBCSim: A Prototype Problem Solving Environment for Wood-Based Composites Simulations. Technical Report ncstrl.vatech_cs//TR-98-25, Computer Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Abstract

This paper describes a computing environment named WBCSim that is intended to increase the productivity of wood scientists conducting research on wood-based composite materials. WBCSim integrates Fortran 77-based simulation codes with a graphical front end, an optimization tool, and a visualization tool. WBCSim serves as a prototype for the design, construction, and evaluation of larger scale problem solving (computing) environments. Several different wood-based composite material simulations are supported. A detailed description of the prototype's software architecture and a typical scenario of use are presented. The system converts output from the simulations to the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) for visualizing simulation results.