Explanation-based machine learning in engineering design

Abstract The development of an unguided or automatic learning system in the domain of structural design is reported. The machine learning technique used is Explanation-Based Learning (EBL). A prototype system, called Structural Design Learning System (SDLS), has been developed in a combination of Prolog and Pascal languages. SDLS includes a modified implementation of EBL in Prolog, where the two stages of explanation and generalization are combined into one stage. A more-formal definition of the operationality criterion suitable for the domain of structural design is proposed and used in SDLS.