This paper proposes a new model for the representation of design processes based on the evolutionary aspect of this activity. Also this work presents an innovative approach to object-oriented design processes and a new pragmatic view of the Design Problem Space (DPS). Furthermore, the principles underlying the model are derived from a working CAD system in furnace design developed during the present research work. The information related to the artifact form (space representation), as well as those associated to the functions (rules and nature laws) that the form should attend to, are incorporated by the model. The proposed model is structured in terms of a small number of object types which are capable of building an efficient and robust hierarchical tree. This tree incorporates all the requirements associated with the artifact from the conceptual stage up to the stage of the artifact complete specification.
Design; engineering design; product modeling; assembly modeling; object modeling
