ABSTRACT
This paper is concerned with the development of a knowledge-based system for the economical design of tubular trusses. The system assists in obtaining economical designs by facilitating the use of a fabrication-led approach. This is achieved by using, in addition to structural design and analysis modules, a cost model to make designers aware of the effects of their decisions on the cost of fabrication. The development of the cost model involved acquiring knowledge about the cost of fabrication of tubular trusses from experts working in the industry and the interpretation and formalisation of this knowledge to be incorporated into a computerised model. This paper reports on this aspect of the development.
