Enhancing the usability of numerical models with case-based reasoning

Numerical models are important tools used in engineering fields to predict the behaviour and the impact of physical elements. There may be advantages to be gained by combining Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) techniques with numerical models. This paper considers how CBR can be used as a flexible query engine to improve the usability of numerical models. Particularly they can help to solve inverse and mixed problems, and to solve constraint problems. We discuss this idea with reference to the illustrative example of a pneumatic conveyor problem. The paper describes example problems faced by design engineers in this context and the issues that need to be considered in this approach. Solution of these problems require methods to handle constraints in both the retrieval phase and the adaptation phase of a typical CBR cycle. We show approaches to the solution of these problesm via a CBR tool.