Chunking Structural Design Knowledge as Prototypes

Abstract

A prototype is a generalization of groupings of elements in a design domain which provides the basis for the commencement of a design. A prototype carries with it the required interpretations or requirements, a vocabulary set of elements, knowledge about that vocabulary and its relation to the requirements and some parameterized design descriptions. The statement “design a rigid frame” brings forth the prototype associated with the label “rigid frame”. This prototype includes the requirements of lateral load resistance, open bays, rigid connections, and the design parameters of bay width and height, material and size of beams and columns, and so on, even though none of these was mentioned explicitly in the prototype’s label. A prototype based structural design knowledge base has been implemented. The implementation supports the design process through the application of these prototypes to specific design problems. Examples of prototypes and their application are described.