Techniques for generating graph-based representations of complex mechanical assemblies

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to automatically modify computer-aided design (CAD) assemblies by performing the steps of:

• generating a first topological model of a first CAD assembly based on a first plurality of CAD models included in the first CAD assembly, wherein the first topological model comprises a first plurality of nodes that represent the first plurality of CAD models and a first set of edges that couple the first plurality of nodes, wherein each edge included in the first set of edges represents a relationship between two CAD models included in the first plurality of CAD models;
• projecting, within a user interface, the first topological model over the first CAD assembly by, for each node included in the first plurality of nodes of the first topological model, projecting the node over a location of a corresponding CAD model included in the first plurality of CAD models, and for each edge included in the first set of edges of the first topological model, displaying the edge between two nodes included in the first plurality of nodes with a thickness that indicates an amount of load between two corresponding CAD models that are represented by the two nodes, wherein the amount of load represents a physical property generated by a physical simulation of the two corresponding CAD models;
• receiving a first user interaction via a first node that is included in the first plurality of nodes and corresponds to a first CAD model included in the first plurality of CAD models;
• and
• based on the first user interaction, automatically performing a first operation involving the first CAD model.

A system, comprising:

• a memory storing a software application;
• and
• a processor that, when executing the software application, is configured to perform the steps of:
• generating a first topological model of a first CAD assembly based on a first plurality of CAD models included in the first CAD assembly, wherein the first topological model comprises a first plurality of nodes that represent the first plurality of CAD models and a first set of edges that couple the first plurality of nodes, wherein each edge included in the first set of edges represents a relationship between two CAD models included in the first plurality of CAD models,
• projecting, within a user interface, the first topological model over the first CAD assembly by, for each node included in the first plurality of nodes of the first topological model, projecting the node over a location of a corresponding CAD model included in the first plurality of CAD models, and for each edge included in the first set of edges of the first topological model, displaying the edge between two nodes included in the first plurality of nodes with a thickness that indicates an amount of load between two corresponding CAD models that are represented by the two nodes, wherein the amount of load represents a physical property generated by a physical simulation of the two corresponding CAD models;
• receiving a first user interaction via a first node that is included in the first plurality of nodes and corresponds to a first CAD model included in the first plurality of CAD models, and
• based on the first user interaction, automatically performing a first operation involving the first CAD model.