In the preliminary phase of engineering design, many different design concepts evolve, and the designer must evaluate these concepts simultaneously for feasibility and relative merit. Currently, most computer-aided design (CAD) systems are useful only after the completion of this preliminary stage when most aspects of the design have become fixed and known. In the preliminary stages of design when the most crucial decisions are made, tools are unavailable to aid the designer in evaluating concepts or choosing among alternatives. Computer tools will be developed for preliminary design. The research will be directed toward creating design tools that allow the designer to choose among alternatives within a CAD environment. Further, analytical tools will be developed so that a design can be analyzed at a level appropriate to its current level of sophistication.
