Patent ID: 6944580

Claim:
A computer implemented method of designing an engine case static structure of a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of: creating signals representing an engine case static structure knowledge base of information having a plurality of design rule signals with respect to a corresponding plurality of parameter signals of associated elements of an engine case static structure, wherein the engine case static structure knowledge base comprises a data value signal for each one of the plurality of design rule signals; entering a desired data value signal for a selected one of the plurality of parameter signals of an associated element of the engine case static structure; comparing the entered desired data value signal for the selected one of the plurality of parameter signals with the corresponding data value signal in the engine case static structure knowledge base for the corresponding one of the plurality of design rule signals; and creating signals representative of a geometric representation of the selected one of the plurality of parameter signals of the associated element of the engine case static structure if the result of the step of comparing is such that the entered desired data value signal for the selected one of the plurality of parameter signals is determined to have a first predetermined relationship with respect to the corresponding data value signal in the engine case static structure knowledge base for the selected one of the plurality of design rule signals.