Analysis plays a significant role during product design. Thanks to computat
ional tools; it contributes highly in product optimisation while decreasing
design cost and time. For analysis applications, the adaptation of the pro
duct geometry is required and consists of producing an idealised model out
of a product solid one. This paper presents a form of features based tool t
o aid the integration of analysis during the design process. It allows prod
ucing an analysis model out of a part solid model. This tool is based on a
morphological analysis of the solid model followed by a two-phase process:
simplification and idealisation. The tool provides an easy way to make comp
uter-aided design model modifications implied by the analysis results; than
ks to features parameterisation and a reconstruction process. Both allow us
to create a solid model on the basis of the idealised one, by using parame
terised reconstruction operators. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Lt
d. All rights reserved.