A computer-aided design system includes a display device, a memory storing a plurality of response surface models, and a processor configured to: (a) display a graphical user interface that includes a model of a vehicle frame; (b) display a section configuration panel that includes one or more section dimension values for one or more section dimensions of a first section member of the plurality of section members; (c) retrieve a first response surface model based on values of the one or more section dimensions for the first section member; (d) determine one or more predicted values associated with the first section member based on the values of the section dimensions, the predicted values include one or more predicted crash resistances for the section member; and (e) display the predicted values, thereby allowing the user to evaluate the predicted values for suitability in vehicle design.