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Removing Algebraic Data Types from Constrained Horn Clauses Using Difference Predicates
We address the problem of proving the satisfiability of Constrained Horn
Clauses (CHCs) with Algebraic Data Types (ADTs), such as lists and trees. We
propose a new technique for transforming CHCs with ADTs into CHCs where
predicates are defined over basic types, such as integers and booleans, only.
Thus, our technique avoids the explicit use of inductive proof rules during
satisfiability proofs. The main extension over previous techniques for ADT
removal is a new transformation rule, called differential replacement, which
allows us to introduce auxiliary predicates corresponding to the lemmas that
are often needed when making inductive proofs. We present an algorithm that
uses the new rule, together with the traditional folding/unfolding
transformation rules, for the automatic removal of ADTs. We prove that if the
set of the transformed clauses is satisfiable, then so is the set of the
original clauses. By an experimental evaluation, we show that the use of the
differential replacement rule significantly improves the effectiveness of ADT
removal, and we show that our transformation-based approach is competitive with
respect to a well-established technique that extends the CVC4 solver with
induction.Comment: 10th International Joint Conference on Automated Reasoning (IJCAR
2020) - version with appendix; added DOI of the final authenticated Springer
publication; minor correction