Author(s)

J. Zucker & A. Demaid

Abstract

Complex modelling of design through object-oriented languages J. Zucker & A. Demaid Knowledge Based Systems in Engineering Research Group, Faculty of Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK ABSTRACT This paper identifies limitations of commonly available object-oriented languages when used for modelling engineering design representations. In particular, we draw attention to their insufficiently dynamic description strategy applicable to evolution and the maintenance of change in structuring engineering concepts. Our in-house object- oriented language, Splinter, derived from the Actor computational strategy, is offered as an alternative solution to fundamental problems of engineering design representation. The paper argues that complex objects are pivotal to design representation. Our approach to complex modelling formulates properties as internalized part-objects and enables specification of control over internal access to any object. The scheme

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