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A unit cell-based design support system (UCBDSS) for composite structural design is introduced. A unit cell is defined as the smallest representative volumetric element to carry the information of composite constituent materials, heterogeneous structures, homogenized mechanical properties, and appropriate manufacturing processes. The database of various composite unit cells is organized to form a unit cell library (UCL). The UCBDSS can intelligently use the information from the UCL to simplify and automate the composite design process, to increase the design efficiency, and to facilitate the tailored composite structure design. The framework of the UCBDSS, its modules, the development of the UCL, the blackboard architecture for design control, and the UCBDSS working environment for Internet-based design are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]