Automated Conceptual Design of Mechanisms Using Improved Morphological Matrix

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 516-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Chen ◽  
Peien Feng ◽  
Bin He ◽  
Zhonquin Lin ◽  
Youbai Xie
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Mechanism Synthesis ◽  
Combinatorial Explosion ◽  
Synthesis Algorithm ◽  
Performance Constraints ◽  
Knowledge Support ◽  
Synthesis Methodology ◽  
Function Matrix

Conceptual design of mechanisms has attracted a number of research efforts in recent years due to its significance in product development. However, existing approaches for automated conceptual design of mechanisms are either prone to a loss of optimal solutions or inextensible to achieve conceptual design of complex mechanisms. This paper is devoted to developing a comprehensive and extensible methodology for automated conceptual design of mechanisms utilizing a design prototype synthesis methodology. To support automated mechanism synthesis effectively, the traditional morphological matrix is improved as a motional function matrix (MFM). In addition, a mechanism prototype knowledge base is developed to provide systematic knowledge support for conceptual design decision-making. Based on the integrated MFM, an exhaustive mechanism synthesis algorithm is developed to yield as many solutions as possible to desired functions to facilitate the discovery of novel and optimal combinatorial solutions. To curb the possible combinatorial explosion from the exhaustive search, a performance constraint verification approach is proposed to help designers filter out combinatorial solutions violating performance constraints, followed by a satisfaction degree-based approach for evaluating the total performances of combinatorial solutions according to the performances of their subsolutions. An automated mechanism conceptual design prototype system is developed and a design case is presented to illustrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed methodology.

Demonstration of a prototype design synthesis capability for space access vehicle design

2020 ◽  
Vol 124 (1281) ◽  
pp. 1761-1788
Author(s):  
L. Rana ◽  
B. Chudoba
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Vehicle Design ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Design Life ◽  
Synthesis Methodology

ABSTRACTThe early conceptual design (CD) phase of space access vehicles (SAVs) is the most abstract, innovative and technologically challenging phase of the entire aerospace design life cycle. Although the design decision-making during this phase influences around 80 percent of the overall life cycle cost, it is the most abstract and thus least understood phase of the entire design life cycle. The history of SAV design provides numerous examples of project failures that could have been avoided if the decision-maker had had the capability to forecast the potential risks and threats correctly ahead of time during the conceptual design phase. The present study addresses this crucial phase and demonstrates a best-practice synthesis methodology prototype to advance the current state of the art of CD as applied to SAV design. Developed by the Aerospace Vehicle Design (AVD) Laboratory at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), the Aerospace Vehicle Design Synthesis process and software (AVDS) is a prototype solution for a flight vehicle configuration–flexible (generic) design synthesis capability that can be applied to the primary categories of SAVs. This study focusses on introducing AVDS, followed by the demonstration and verification of the system’s capability through a sizing case study based on the data-rich Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar spaceplane.

Personalized knowledge push system based on design intent and user interest

2015 ◽  
Vol 230 (11) ◽  
pp. 1757-1772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhan-Song Wang ◽  
Ling Tian ◽  
Yuan-Hao Wu ◽  
Bei-Bei Liu
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Target Function ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Sorting Algorithm ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
User Interest ◽  
Design Intent

Existing knowledge provides important reference for designers in mechanical design activities. However, current knowledge acquisition methods based on information retrieval have the problem of inefficiency and low precision, which mainly meet the requirement for knowledge coverage. To improve the efficiency of knowledge acquisition and ensure the availability of design knowledge, this paper proposes a knowledge push service method based on design intent and user interest. First, the design intent model, which is mainly the formal expression of the target function of conceptual design, is built. Second, the user interest model that consists of domain themes and operation logs is built, and an automatic updating method of user interest is proposed. Third, a matching method of design knowledge based on design intent, and a sorting algorithm of knowledge candidates based on user interest are proposed to realize personalized knowledge active push service. Finally, a prototype system called Personalized Knowledge Push System for Mechanical Conceptual Design (MCD-PKPS) is implemented. An illustrative case demonstrates that the proposed method can successfully improve the efficiency and availability of knowledge acquisition.

Assessing Product Lifecycle Sustainability Using Uncertain Design Information at Conceptual Stage

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Z. Yang ◽  
B. Song
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Product Information ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Fuzzy Evaluation ◽  
Product Lifecycle ◽  
Selection Of

This paper presents a hierarchical fuzzy evaluation approach to product lifecycle sustainability assessment at conceptual design stages. The purpose is to advocate the emerging use of lifecycle engineering methods in support of evaluation and selection of design alternatives for sustainable product development. A fuzzy evaluation model is developed with a hierarchical criteria structure to represent different sustainability considerations in the technical, economic and environmental dimensions. Using the imprecise and uncertain early-stage product information, each design option is assessed by the model with respect to the hierarchical evaluation criteria. Lifecycle engineering methods, such as lifecycle assessment and lifecycle costing analysis, are applied to the generation of the evaluation criteria. This would provide designers with a more complete lifecycle view about the product’s sustainability potentials to support decision-making in evaluation and selection of conceptual designs. The proposed approach has been implemented in a sustainable design decision-support software prototype. Illustrative examples are discussed in the paper to demonstrate the use of the approach and the prototype in conceptual design selection of a consumer product.

Towards a Conceptual Design Explorer Using Metamodeling Approaches and Constraint Programming

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Yannou ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
Russell R. Barton
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Constraint Programming ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Preference Aggregation ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Performance Variables ◽  
Performance Constraints ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performances

Constraint Programming (CP) is a promising technique for managing uncertainty in conceptual design. It provides efficient algorithms for reducing, as quickly as possible, the domains of the design and performance variables while complying to the engineering and performance constraints linking them. In addition, CP techniques are suitable to graphically represent 3D projections of the complete design space. This is a useful capability for a better understanding of the product concept’s degrees of freedom and a valuable alternative to optimization based upon the construction of an arbitrary preference aggregation function. Unfortunately, one of the main impediments for using Constraint Programming on industrial problems of practical interest is that constraints must be represented by analytical equations, which is not the case of hard mechanical performances — such as meshing and finite element computations — that are usually obtained after lengthy simulations. We propose to use metamodeling techniques (MM) to generate approximated mathematical models of these analyses which can be employed directly within a CP environment, expanding the scope of CP to applications that previously could not be solved by CP due to the unavailability of analytical equations. We show that there is a tradeoff between the metamodel fidelity and the resulting CP constraint tractability. A strategy to find this compromise is presented. The case study of a combustion chamber design shows amazingly that the compromise is to favor the simplest and the coarsest first-order response surface model.

A guided approach to conceptual design in the information design process

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Pontis
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Design ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Intended Audience ◽  
Subject Areas

Conceptual design is often overlooked and underestimated by information designers who tend to be more focused on implementation and concerned with aesthetic qualities. Consequently, there is a lack of thorough thinking and understanding during the conceptual part of the design process that results in a recurrent development of unintelligible diagrams in information design practice. Bringing awareness to conceptual design can help designers realize its function and importance for the development of effective diagrams. To address this situation, this paper proposes the adoption in professional practice of a conceptual design tool with a guided approach, e.g., MapCI Cards. Working with this approach may aid information designers in the preparation of diagrams by guiding conceptual design tasks: understanding the diagram purpose and intended-audience, analyzing and simplifying information sources, identifying subject areas and information types, and defining their organization into a hierarchical structure. We describe this type of approach and discuss its usefulness for information designers, explaining how it could support their conceptual design decision-making. Then, we present scenarios in which working with the approach could be beneficial, followed by recommendations to use this approach in professional practice.

Strategic Conceptual Design in Mechanism Synthesis

1989 ◽  
pp. 148-153
Author(s):  
Kevin Otto ◽  
Donald R. Riley ◽  
Arthur G. Erdman ◽  
Albert Esterline
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Mechanism Synthesis

Reliability-Based Topology Optimization Considering Multicriteria Using Frame Elements

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuya Mogami ◽  
Kazuhiro Izui ◽  
Shinji Nishiwaki ◽  
Masataka Yoshimura ◽  
Nozomu Kogiso
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Topology Optimization ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Discrete Elements ◽  
Detailed Design

Since decision-making at the conceptual design stage critically affects final design solutions at the detailed design stage, conceptual design support techniques are practically mandatory if the most efficient realization of optimal designs is desired. Topology optimization methods using discrete elements such as frame elements enable a useful understanding of the underlying mechanics principles of products, however the possibility of changing prior assumptions concerning utilization environments exists since the detailed design process starts after the completion of conceptual design decision-making. In order to avoid product performance reductions due to such later-stage environmental changes, this paper discusses a reliability-based topology optimization method that can secure specified design goals even in the face of environmental factor uncertainty. This method can optimize mechanical structures with respect to two principal characteristics, namely structural stiffness and eigen-frequency. Several examples are provided to illustrate the utility of the method presented here for mechanical design engineers.

A knowledge-based system for multi-disciplinary conceptual design synthesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 226 (12) ◽  
pp. 2950-2966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze-Lin Liu ◽  
Yong Chen ◽  
You-Bai Xie
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Synthesis Algorithm ◽  
Design Task ◽  
Knowledge Based System ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Viable Approach ◽  
Prototype Software

Exploring wide multi-disciplinary solution spaces to create conceptual design solutions is a difficult task for human designers due to lack of sufficient multi-disciplinary knowledge. A viable approach would be to develop a computer-aided system to synthesize the wide variety of knowledge for a given design task. However, the existing design synthesis systems are mainly domain-specific, focusing on conceptual design synthesis in a single or few limited disciplines. Therefore, this article introduces the development of a knowledge-based system for multi-disciplinary conceptual design synthesis, including the establishment of a knowledge base for organizing multi-disciplinary principle solutions and a design synthesis algorithm. The implementation of a prototype software is also reported, with the conceptual design of a solar fountain as a demonstrative case. The results of the case study show that the system can automatically and conveniently generate multi-disciplinary conceptual solutions.

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