Resumen de Conceptual Design by Computer-aided Creation of Function Structures and the Search for Solutions

Mahendra S. Hundal, L. D. Langholtz

• The paper presents a computer-based approach to the conceptual phase of systematic design method. An interactive graphical program is described, which uses an object-oriented approach for developing conceptual designs. The program is written in the C programming language and designed on a UNIX operating system. The program uses databases containing solutions, which correspond to the functions used in the function structure development. The solutions are described at the level of abstraction of solution principles. The program presents solutions to the user for a given function according to the input(s) and output(s), and their descriptors. The output of this phase of the program are alternative solution structures, which are then evaluated and the optimum concept presented.