Physical space Application Object

A Physical_space is a Class that is one of the following:

• a set of features (infinitesimal features such as points, curves or surfaces, or finite sub-volumes) within a Product_design;
• a parametric family of product designs;
• a set of states or sub-activities within an Activity;
• a parametric family of activities, or Behaviour;
• a Property_space; or
• a space which is a combination of these.

NOTE - A combinations space can be regarded as a 'product'.

EXAMPLE - The Product_design that is beam 'XB_123' can be regarded as a one dimensional set of cross section surfaces. The Activity that is 'pre-stressing of XB_123' can be regarded as a one dimensional set of states.

There is a corresponding 'product' space which is a two dimensional set of pre-stressing states for cross sections.

EXAMPLE - The 'widget XY family' is a two dimensional family of product designs parameterised by length and width. The Activity 'widget XY family start-up' can be regarded as a one dimensional set of states.

There is a corresponding 'product' space which is a three dimensional set of states within the start-up activity for designs within the family.

NOTE - The dimension of a Physical_space that is a product of other spaces, is the sum of the dimensions of components.

NOTE - This application object has been defined to indicate the common semantics of other application objects which are specialisations or populations of it. This application object has no interpretation on to the MIM, apart from the interpretation of its dimension attribute. Instead each of its subtypes is interpreted separately.

EXPRESS specification:

*)
ENTITY Physical_space
  SUBTYPE OF (Class);
  dimension  :  OPTIONAL INTEGER;
END_ENTITY;
(*

Attribute definitions:

dimension : the dimension of the Physical_space. Each item within the Physical_space can be uniquely identified by a numerical n-tuple of this dimension. The dimension of a Physical_space need not specified if it is not known; if it is not of interest; or if it is expected to be deduced from other information about the Physical_space.