Abstract
Based on the idea that problems of similar class tend to have similar solutions, this research established a problem modeling approach, based on Problem Characteristics Array (PCA), and a solution modeling approach based on TRIZ Trends of technical evolutions to identify stages of relevant trend for problem solving. A set of similarity formula were established to extract relevant trends and stages for solutions from solutions to problems of similar PCA. The PCA of a problem consists primarily of the functions needed to solve the problem and attributes or their changes needed for problem solving. The mathematical model for similarity calculations to match problem characteristics array (PCA) onto corresponding stages of relevant evolutionary trends was codified in Excel-based software for ease of usage. The model can indentify relevant trends quickly and objectively without relying on experienced and subjective human judgments. The contributions of the research include: 1) Establishing a mathematical model to automatically and quickly identify solution models in relevant trends without relying on expert’s knowledge or subjective judgments; 2) Identifying relationship among attributes, states, and functions of an engineering system paving the foundation for function-attribute-based solution identifications using various similarity analyses in the future; 3) Establishing standardized evolution trends tables on function-attribute relations for further relevant studies.