Information models of design constraints for collaborative product development

Complex products and systems, like an aircraft, ship, or machinery plant, involve a large number of components which are arranged under spatial constraints/relationships in the design space. Current practices approximate these relationships. with simplified "dimensional constraints" aiming at formulating the design problem as a system of (in)equalities to be solved automatically, e.g., by a geometric-constraint solver This research proposes informationally-complete models for design-constraints based on an analysis of geometric and non-geometric properties of the related space volumes. Also, an extended product model is proposed describing the system\´s structure and components as well as related procedures and constraints to be used as a system life-cycle model.