Formalization Approach to Early Design Synthesis

This article introduces a formal early design synthesis and its corollary, function-behaviour-structure, to an early design analysis and identification of concepts for complex systems. First, the article presents state of the art of design modelling frameworks and tools for dynamic system synthesis and behaviour modelling. Secondly, the key elements for function-based design synthesis and behaviour modelling are discussed, as well as the interest and actual limitations of the general architecture model applied to early design of complex systems. Finally, the article proposes an alternative approach in order to allow systematic design and to explore behaviours of functions and structures early in the development stage with the intention of future coding as a computational tool to further allow the automation of design process