A language for implementing computational mechanics applications

Abstract

Existing computer systems and user interface command languages for application in computational mechanics have been so far mostly developed by applying traditional, non-OO techniques. As a consequence, they are often hampered by severe limitations in code extensibility, reusability, robustness and correctness and require excessive programming efforts in development, testing and maintenance. In order to overcome these difficulties, newly designed systems should take advantage of OO concepts and tools at all levels, including the code user interface. We present a practical experience in this direction-applying OO concepts and tools in the design and prototype implementation of a new language specifically for computational mechanics applications. It is concluded, that the OO techniques and tools applied in this research provide software developers with the technology to rapidly produce sophisticated languages without being overly concerned with the underlying intricacies of their construction.