Variational design
From PLMpedia
A type of parametric simulation of the form of the designed product, when interrelations between parameters of geometric elements are given by declarative constructions (constraints). Constraints set logical and parametric links between geometric elements (parallelism, touching, distance), without defining a specific method of parameter recalculation (from the first element to the second one or vice versa). This concept has an advantage over the modeling based on historical data due to its expressiveness; however, implementing a regeneration cycle of a geometrical model due to changed parameters requires simultaneous solution of the system of geometric restrictions. Effective solution of hundreds and thousands of simultaneous constraints can be achieved with specialized geometric solvers.
