6.6.1 Using MBSE with SysML Parametrics to Perform Requirements Analysis

Requirements are attributed as a common cause of failure in system development. Not only are text requirements ambiguous, the domain conditions under which they are to be satisfied are vague. Until operating conditions and requirements are formally captured, they will continue to be vague with ill-defined verification criteria. SysML used in a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) development process can enable mitigation of this primary source of error. By representing the system under design and its operating environment as a composite SysML model with parametric diagrams, requirements can be formalized in a precise manner. Formalization of requirements and constraints with parametric diagrams enables them to be verified and flowed down during the development process. An example will be used to illustrate how parametric diagrams can be used to develop requirements and constraints.