AN ALGEBRAIC AND PREDICATE LOGIC APPROACH TO REPRESENTATION AND REASONING IN MACHINE-DESIGN

Machine elements and systems are represented for use in a design library to support the tasks involved in machine design. Machines are modeled as systems decomposable hierarchically from both the views of structure and behavior. Systems and their decomposed structures are represented algebraically using set and list primitives while behaviors are represented using typed predicate logic. The function, i.e. purpose, of subsystems in a machine system is also represented. Procedures to support design verification, design selection and design synthesis using algebraic and logical transformation rules are presented. The development of the representation scheme and reasoning procedures are illustrated with simple examples from machine design. © 1990.