Method of analyzing an assembly of parts with respect to a predetermined design criterion

A method of analyzing an assembly of parts with respect to at least one predetermined design criterion, the method comprising:

• providing design data represented by digital mockups, each digital mockup faithfully representing one part in three dimensions, and assembling of the digital mockups with each other defining the assembly of parts in three dimensions;
• identifying the parts of the assembly;
• determining, among the parts of the assembly thus identified, several first pairs of parts, each of the first pairs of parts defining two parts in mechanical contact with one another;
• determining, among the first pairs of parts, several second pairs of parts, each of the second pairs of parts defining two parts which conform to said at least one predetermined criterion;
• identifying a set of the second pairs of parts;
• determining, in dependence on the identified set of second pairs of parts, a result of the analysis of the assembly of parts with respect to said at least one predetermined design criterion;
• and
• determining at least one path taken by a flow of a physical quantity in the assembly or a portion thereof.