Qualitative reasoning and the representation of fundamental principles in structural engineering

Abstract

Qualitative reasoning is a methodology for deriving the behavior of a device from a declarative representation of relevant fundamental principles and a high-level description of the device. This article and its companion present a qualitative reasoning framework, named the space-centered framework, for reasoning about the behavior of structural systems subjected to loads. The framework includes a representation of the topology and geometry of a structure, and the fundamental principles of equilibrium, compatibility and force-deformation relationships. A parameter, such as a displacement or an internal force, is represented qualitatively by its algebraic sign and its relationship in magnitude with other parameters in the model. Component qualitative states incorporate the fundamental principles for a class of components, such as frame members or supports. The conjugate analogy between the equilibrium and compatibility laws is recognized in the representation. Processes acting between components represent fundamental principles of equilibrium and compatibility at the connections. A companion paper presents the inference strategy for the space-centered framework and its application to qualitative analysis of conceptual designs of structures.