Constraint-Aided Conceptual Design

The design process remains one of the enigmas of engineering. The process of "creative design" results in a solution, or solutions, which meet desired objectives within a framework of specified constraints. There is rarely a "unique" solution to a design problem. Indeed, a multitude of solutions might well emerge and additional factors are then invoked to determine the selected design. Such factors might be aesthetic appeal, cost or ease of manufacture, life-cycle performance, and the total cost of maintenance. In this volume, the author shows how powerful computational systems can be used to address these problems and to rationalize the total design process. The text illustrates the impact of computers and computing strategies upon conceptual design and should be of interest to engineering designers and computer scientists alike.