DESIGN SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR PROCESS ENGINEERING .2. KBDS - AN EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE

KBDS is a prototype design support system for process engineering. It was created as an experimental vehicle to test and develop ideas about the representation of the design process, and to demonstrate how such a representation can be used to support the design activity. Our star ting point is a representation of the design process consisting of thr ee space: one for design alternatives, another for design objectives, and a their structure, behaviour, and alternatives. These have been im plemented in a prototype system, and their structure, behaviour, and i nteraction are described. The implementation is based on two powerful techniques: object-oriented programming, and assumption-based truth ma intenance systems (ATMS). The functionally of KBDS is shown through a demonstration based on the sequential development of a separation syst em and the hierarchical conceptual design of the HDA process. This dem onstration shows that the current capabilities of KBDS satisfy many of the requirements of a design support system, and provide a basis for future expansion to satify the others.