Extending SysML for Engineering Designers by Integration of the Contact & Channel – Approach (C&C2-A) for Function-Based Modeling of Technical Systems

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is advancing rapidly in the domains of software and embedded systems. In contrast, mechanical engineers still have trouble in application of MBSE. SysML has established as the leading modeling language for multidisciplinary systems, but some limitations still hinder mechanical engineers from its application. The provided behavioral and structural diagrams seem to not being sufficiently capable to represent all relevant information regarding mechanical systems. This paper presents an extending profile which aims to overcome some of those limitations. The profile is based on the Contact & Channel – Approach (C&C2-A), which is well-proven in function-based modeling of technical systems comprising function-relevant structural properties. The goals of the C&C2-A are to retain a maximal solution space, to overcome component- afflicted thinking and to provide an adequate modeling approach for mechanical relevant information. A prototypic tool implementation of the extending SysML-profile, complemented by some automatisms in form of a plugin, is evaluated at the example of a small gearbox.