The document presents a dissertation that develops a System of Systems Flexibility Framework (SoSFFram) to measure the flexibility of systems of systems and enable flexibility-based design space exploration using a combination of techniques. The framework first focuses on measuring a system of system's flexibility to evolve and adapt using network theory and discrete event simulation. It then develops a simulation environment that can also measure baseline performance. Finally, it proposes using a genetic algorithm to explore the vast design space of a system of systems. The goal is to provide a methodology for flexibility-based system of systems design.

1. Abstract
DissertationbyDavidWarshawsky
Systemof SystemsFlexibilityFramework(SoSFFram):A MethodologyforFlexibilityBasedSystemsof
SystemsDesignSpace Exploration.
As systemsbecome more interconnected,the focusof engineeringdesignmust shifttoinclude
considerationforsystemsof systems(SoS) effects. Asthe focusshiftsfromsingularsystemstosystems
of systems,sotoomustthe focus shiftfromperformance basedanalysistoanevaluationmethodthat
accounts forthe tendencyof such large scale systemstofar outlive theiroriginaloperational
environmentsandcontinuallyevolveinordertoadapt to the changes.It isnearlyimpossible topredict
the nature of these changes,therefore the firstfocusof thisthesisisthe measurement of the flexibility
of the SoSand itsabilitytoevolve andadapt.Flexibilityismeasuredusingacombinationof network
theoryand a discrete eventsimulation,therefore,the secondfocusisthe developmentof asimulation
environmentthatcan alsomeasure the system’sperformance forbaselinecomparisons.Finally,the
thirdfocusis on a methodforexploringthe vastSoSdesignspace usingageneticalgorithm.The resultis
a frameworkformeasuringSoSflexibilityandamethodologyforflexibilitybasedSoSdesign.