Solid Modeling

Programs that are capable of solid modeling can be much more powerful than simple wireframe modelers. These programs are used to build parts that are actually solid objects instead of simply a wireframe outline of the part. Since these parts are represented as solids, they have volume, and if given a density can have a weight and mass as well. The computer can calculate many physical properties of these parts, such as center of gravity and moments of inertia. These calculations can even be performed for irregularly shaped parts, for which manual calculations would be extremely difficult. Finite Element Analysis techniques can also be used to perform stress analyses of these parts. [Mortenson]

Last Modified: Wed Aug 28 14:41:29 EDT 1996