FRODO: Constraint-Based Object-Modeling for Preliminary Design

Abstract

Abstract Computer support of design analysis tasks is a key element in improving the productivity of design engineers. This undertaking is particularly difficult for preliminary design, where products are constantly evolving and therefore the required analyses change. Furthermore, because preliminary design requires quick turnaround, engineers must often rely on special-purpose analysis codes developed in-house by the engineers themselves. Thus, a computer tool for integrating such codes to support multi-disciplinary design must provide flexibility. The work presented here attempts to meet this requirement by combining object-oriented modeling with constraint propagation. Object-oriented techniques are intended to provide the modeling flexibility needed for preliminary design, while constraint propagation is a flexible means for integrating and performing mathematical analyses. The utility of this approach is demonstrated by its application to aircraft engine preliminary design. Current work in coupling the modeling software to a generic optimization package is also discussed.

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