John R. Dixon

A review of research in mechanical engineering design. Part I: Descriptive, prescriptive, and computer-based models of design processes

This is the first of a two part paper summarizing and reviewing research in mechanical engineering design theory and methodology. Part I includes: 1) descriptive models; 2) prescrptive models; and 3) computer-based models of design processes. Part II, which will appear in the next issue of this journal, will include: 4) languages, representations, and environments for design; 5) analysis in support of design; and 6) design for manufacture and the life-cycle. For each major area, we discuss the current topics of research and the state of the art, emphasizing recent significant advances. We also discuss the important open research issues in each area. The six categories are certainly not mutually exclusive nor even collectively exhaustive; however, some organization is necessary, and these categories have been effective in making sense of a body of research that is expending rapidly in many exciting and promising directions. The mechanical engineering design research community has made major advances over the last few years. The research community in mechanical engineering design has made significant progress not only in advancing our knowledge of design, but also in clarifying the research methods necessary to study design. Great progress is being made toward a better understanding of design, and hence toward better design tools.

A review of research in mechanical engineering design. Part II: Representations, analysis, and design for the life cycle

This is the second of a two-part paper summarizing and reviewing research in mechanical engineering design theory and methodology. Part I included 1) descriptive models; 2) prescriptive models; and 3) computer-based models of design processes. Part II includes: 4) languages, representations, and environments for design; 5) analysis in support of design; and 6) design for manufacture and the life cycle. For each area, we discuss the current topics of research and the state of the art, emphasizing recent significant advances. A final section is included that summarizes the six major areas and lists open research issues.

Guiding conceptual design through behavioral reasoning

This paper presents a model for conceptual design based on an explicit behavioral reasoning step to guide the design process. Rather than mapping directly from function to form, we treat conceptual design as a two-step process, first transforming functional requirements to a behavioral description and then matching physical artifacts to this behavior. We believe that behavior, in terms of physical principles and phenomena, provides a natural bridge between functional requirements and physical artifacts. Behavioral reasoning breaks preconceived links between functions and artifacts, allowing for innovative solutions to be found. A new representation calledbehavior graphs (derived from bond graphs) has been developed to facilitate behavioral reasoning. This paper discusses behavior graphs and their use in a design synthesis model that generates systems of pre-defined embodiments (e.g., motor, spring, valve) to meet functional requirements given in terms of input and output parameters (e.g., force, pressure, displacement, voltage). An experimental computer program implementing this model is discussed and illustrative examples presented.

Expert systems for mechanical design: Examples of symbolic representations of design geometries

A major issue in the development of computer-integrated manufacturing systems is the creation and maintenance of a suitable data base that will serveall the various functions in the design through manufacturing sequence. These functions include the designer interface, graphics output, evaluation of manufacturability, functional evaluation (including possibly finite element analyses), process design, process planning, process control, and quality control. Since design is the beginning of this design manufacturing spectrum, it is incumbent on the design process to produce the required data structure that will allow input and access by the other functions. A key element in such a multipurpose data base is the method by which the design geometry is represented, and an essential ingredient of this representation is information about the geometricfeatures of the design that are relevant to the various parts of the sequence. We are exploring “design with features” as a design method to obtain the needed feature information and experimenting with different data structures for symbolic representation of the resulting designs. In this paper, we describe three examples of different types of features for use as design primitives and four data structures (in LISP) that result from their use. The domains of the examples are extrusion, injection molding, and casting.

DOMINIC: A DOMAIN-INDEPENDENT PROGRAM FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN.

Abstract We describe an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program for mechanical engineering design. The program, called Dominic, characterizes design as best-first search through a space of possible designs. Dominic is a general architecture for a class of mechanical engineering design problems; within its redesign framework, in which a design is iteratively modified and improved, one can design a variety of mechanical devices. Dominics performance on two design problems is evaluated, and a battery of experiments with Dominic is discussed.

Computer environments for the design of mechanical assemblies: A research review

This paper reviews the most relevant literature dealing with the development of computer environments for the conceptual design of mechanical systems and assemblies. Selected literature is reviewed and discussed in relation to meeting the following requirements of such an environment: (1) representing and supporting top-down design, (2) representing and supporting multiple functional viewpoints, (3) representing functional knowledge, (4) representing spatial relationships and geometry, (5) maintaining consistency, and (6) providing analysis and other support. An appendix listing related readings is included.

Dominic I: Progress toward domain independence in design by iterative redesign

This paper describes the first working version of a program called Dominic that performs design by iterative redesign in a domain-independent manner. The paper describes in detail the programs strategy, which stresses the concept of redesign dependencies to guide its redesign process. Dominic has been successfully tested in four different domains. Its performance on two of these (v-belt drive design and design of extruded heat sinks) is presented here. The redesign class of design problems on which Dominic works is that large class of problems that are intellectually manageable and solvable without subdivision into smaller parts. This includes the various subproblems ultimately created when large complex problems are decomposed for solution. Dominic is a hill-climbing algorithm, similar in this respect to standard optimization methods. However, its problem formulation or input language is more flexible for some design applications than optimization techniques. Work is continuing on a Dominic II in an effort to overcome some of the limitations of Dominic.

A program of research in mechanical design: computer-based models and representations

Abstract This paper describes a research program which attempts to contribute to a theory of mechanical design by implementing and experimenting with computer-based models of design processes and new representations for in-progress designed artifacts. A proposed “taxonomy” of design problem types is summarized, and computer-based models for parametric component design, parametric assembly design, configuration design and design-with-features representations are described.

Knowledge Representation in Mechanical Design Systems: Issues and Examples

Representation des connaissances pour la conception des systemes mecaniques. Problemes et exemples

Recent Developments in Engineering Design Research

Engineering design is that phase of the product realization process which, given the output of what is commonly called ‘industrial design’, adds the information needed for manufacturing a product. That is a lotof information. The industrial designers essentially provide only a marketing concept for a product, including some usually incomplete and vague requirements of the market. Manufacturing, of course, requires complete information about the material, dimensions, and tolerances for every part, as well as how the parts are to be assembled into a product. Thus, the amount of information about a product that is added in the engineering design phase is huge - and the product’s cost and quality are extremely sensitive to the decisions made during engineering design.