Recursive MBSE Architecture Weave Pattern
The Recursive MBSE Architecture Weave Pattern (RAWP) is a SysML v2 reference model for requirements-driven behavioral modeling with recursive decomposition. The pattern is machine-readable, executable, and intended for reuse as a practical baseline in MBSE projects.
Overview
The pattern combines:
- Recursive requirement decomposition across model levels.
- Structural allocation using explicit budget attributes.
- Behavioral realization via action execution and value propagation.
- Verification cases bound to integrated model contexts.
- Layered interface/stack-port modeling for interaction semantics.
Pattern Architecture
Decomposition Levels
| Level |
Name |
Scope |
Role |
| L0 |
Operational |
Operational context/environment |
Root behavioral quality production |
| L1 |
SystemOfInterest |
Primary design scope |
Intermediate decomposition |
| L2 |
Subsystems |
System constituents |
Intermediate decomposition |
| L3 |
Components |
Leaf elements |
Terminal decomposition |
Framework Level
Level -1 (Framework) provides reusable definitions for all decomposition levels:
- Common semantics and reusable types.
- Layered stack-port/interface definitions.
- Cross-level modeling conventions.
- Verification intent categories.
Abstraction Views per Level
| View |
Suffix |
Meaning |
| Blackbox |
_bb |
Original need perspective, no visible internals |
| Graybox / Derived |
_gb / Derived |
Decomposed requirement, budget allocation, constituent visibility |
| Whitebox |
_wb |
Integrated structure with full connectivity |
Naming pattern:
- Original requirement:
payloadQualityGain{Level}
- Derived requirement:
payloadQualityGain{Level}Derived
Recommended Modeling Sequence
Use this sequence to minimize rework and keep decisions evidence-based:
- Define behavior first at graybox (
_gb).
- Run analysis at graybox (
_gb) to calibrate assumptions and attributes.
- Refine connectivity only after behavior and analysis are stable.
- Execute verification at whitebox (
_wb) when available.
Default policy:
- Prefer analysis on
_gb.
- Use analysis on
_bb only by explicit exception.
- In this pattern, L3 analysis cases are intentionally omitted; L2 Subsystem2 is the explicit
_bb exception.
Analysis Aspect
Analysis is a first-class part of the pattern and is used to calibrate decomposition decisions before interface hardening and final verification.
Primary analysis intent:
- Calibrate budget attributes and allocation splits.
- Test sensitivity to assumption changes.
- Evaluate degradation and boundary scenarios.
- Compare alternatives and trade-offs before structural lock-in.
Modeling policy for analysis:
- Prefer analysis at graybox (
_gb) where constituent behavior is visible.
- Use blackbox (
_bb) analysis only when explicitly justified by uncertainty, alternatives, or context constraints.
- Keep analysis focused on decision support, not on duplicating verification cases.
Expected analysis outcomes:
- Updated allocation values and assumptions.
- Clear rationale for requirement decomposition choices.
- Better confidence before refining connectors/ports and running integrated verification.
Analysis placement by level:
- L0, L1, and L2 can host analysis cases where decomposition decisions are active.
- L3 analysis can be intentionally omitted for leaf-level reference branches.
Core Recursive Mechanism
1. Requirement Decomposition
Pattern characteristics:
- Derived requirement subsets parent requirement.
- Subject is redefined from
_bb context to decomposed (_gb) context.
- Budget attributes carry explicit allocations.
- Child requirements represent allocated needs for next-level constituents.
- Assumption gates control whether frame/require obligations are evaluated.
2. Structural Quality Closure
RAWP uses structural attribute binding in derived requirements:
subject.qualityContribution is defined as the sum of allocated budget attributes.
- This is structural definition, not only post-hoc validation.
- Constraint statements remain as explicit, readable closure rules.
3. Configuration Realization
- Blackbox part satisfies the original requirement.
- Graybox part subsets blackbox and introduces constituents.
- Whitebox part (when present) integrates interfaces/ports/flows.
- Satisfaction links connect each requirement to the realization context.
4. Behavioral Realization
- Blackbox parts bind
qualityContribution to action outputs.
- Action execution computes quality values used by requirement evaluation.
- Verification uses live computed values, not static placeholders.
5. Verification Realization
- Verification objective targets the requirement being verified.
- Verification subject is
_wb when available, otherwise _gb/_bb for terminal branches.
- Stimulus is routed to actions that execute behavior, avoiding empty shells.
Layered Stack Port Pattern
The framework defines a layered stack-port model (MyStackPort) and the SoI applies it through explicit directional flows.
Key usage rules:
- Choose one connector-facing abstraction layer per connector usage.
- Keep flow declarations direction-compatible with selected nested ports.
- Use conjugation intentionally where consumer-facing orientation requires inversion.
- Avoid accidental mixed-layer declarations unless explicitly intended.
Design Principles
- Requirement duality: each requirement is both a child need from parent perspective and a requirement at its own level.
- Action-output traceability: quality values come from executable behavior bindings.
- Explicit allocation: budget attributes are model values, not hidden assumptions.
- Structural enforcement: derived sums are defined through binding, not narrative intent.
- Assumption gating: frame and require clauses are evaluated only when assumptions hold.
- Design/environment separation: designed elements are behavior-driven; external elements can remain blackbox defaults.
Cross-Level Consistency Rules
Maintain consistency through:
- Subject chain integrity from parent level to child level.
- Action subsetting integrity from parent action to child actions.
- Requirement satisfaction chain integrity from original to derived and onward.
Implementation Checklist
For each added decomposition level, include:
- Requirements file:
- Original requirement on
_bb subject.
- Derived requirement with budget attributes and closure logic.
- Assumption gate and frame/require obligations.
- Child requirements for allocated needs.
- Configuration file:
_bb and _gb parts, plus _wb where decomposition exists.
- Satisfaction links to original and derived requirements.
- Part structure and connectivity aligned with taxonomy.
- Behavior file:
- Action structure for
_bb and derived behavior paths.
- Value-producing actions for quality computation.
- Analysis file:
- Analysis cases for sensitivity, degradation, and trade-off exploration.
- Assumption and allocation calibration scenarios for decision support.
- Verification file:
- Cases for original and derived requirements.
- Subjects chosen by highest integrated level available.
- Stimulus routed to executable action chains.
- Stakeholder/taxonomy views:
- Concerns and constraints aligned with frame/require semantics.
Scalability
The pattern scales by:
- Horizontal expansion: add additional subsystems.
- Vertical expansion: insert intermediate levels.
- Terminal variation: keep some branches at blackbox leaf form.
Repository Structure
RecursiveArchitecturePattern/
|-- Level -1 - Framework/
|-- Level 0 - Operational/
|-- Level 1 - SystemOfInterest/
|-- Level 2 - Subsystems/
|-- Level 3 - Components/
|-- Credits/
|-- CHANGELOG.md
`-- README.md