Foundations of validating reusable behavioral models in engineering design problems

We present a conceptual framework for validating reusable behavioral models. The setting for this work is a modern product development environment in which design is performed by teams of specialists that collaborate through model reuse. The various modes of model reuse separate validation-relevant knowledge from the tasks for which it is needed. To enable efficient and effective transfer of this knowledge to the tasks for which it is needed, we propose a framework for validating reusable behavioral models based on formal representations of validation-relevant knowledge. The framework defines the abstract knowledge representation as well as an abstract process for applying this knowledge to validate reusable behavioral models. Although this framework is not a complete solution to the validation problem in design, it forms a foundation for understanding and solving the problem and represents a starting point for future investigation.