Author(s)

Elio Toppano

Abstract

In this paper, engineering design is considered from the point of view of modeling i.e. the construction and manipulation of models of (possible) physical realities. Consequently, the design activity has been analysed in terms of patterns of inference called model transmutations. Three categories of transmutations namely, transformations, combinations and prototype copying, have been discussed with reference to the Multimodeling approach for representing physical systems. The major goal of the paper is to provide a conceptual framework for analysing existing design systems and for addressing questions concerning their competence such as what types of inference patterns underlie different design strategies e.g. case-based, compositional and analogical design; what

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