STRUCTURAL DESIGN

THE INCREASED USE OF COMPUTERS IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN HAS REDUCED THE SAFETY OF OUR BUILDINGS, BRIDGES AND OTHER CONSTRUCTED FACILITIES, AS MORE OF THE ENGINEERING IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE HUMAN TO HIS "BLACK BOX." AN ACCELERATION OF THIS TREND IS ANTICIPATED WITH THE CURRENT INTRODUCTION OF A NEW GENERATION OF "EXPERT" DESIGN SOFTWARE. IN PHASE I, THE RELIABILITY OF EXPERT SYSTEMS FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN WITH MICROCOMPUTERS WILL BE EVALUATED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE FOR IMPROVEMENTS. AMONG THE AREAS TO BE STUDIED FOR THIS PURPOSE ARE: THE RELIABILITY OF OTHER EXPERT DESIGN SYSTEMS, SELF-EXPLANATORY AND READILY-MODIFIABLE SOFTWARE, AND EXPERT SYSTEM GENERATORS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH WILL BE REQUIRED IN PHASE II TO PRODUCE A FORMAL STANDARD OF RELIABILITY FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN SOFTWARE AND A COMPUTERIZED SHELL FOR IMPLEMENTING IT.