The authors describe a system, called Device Modeling Environment (DME), which facilitates both model formulation and simulation stages of modeling physical system behavior. There are three main stages in reasoning about the behavior of a system, namely (1) model formulation, (2) prediction, and (3) interpretation of the results. Close coupling of the three stages of reasoning about behavior will allow sharing of information among the stages. It will also result in a more robust and flexible system as a whole than a collection of isolated programs each performing only one aspect of reasoning about behavior. Given a description of the structure of a device, DME formulates a behavior model of the device, predicts its behavior, and gives an explanation of the behavior. DME is capable of modeling both continuous and discontinuous phenomena. The intended application of DME is facilitating the conceptual design stage. DME would help engineers to experiment with alternative designs even at an early stage of the design process by providing immediate feedback about the implications of design decisions.
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