Marcos Alexandre Luciano

Assessment of a Product Range Model concept to support design reuse using rule based systems and case based reasoning

Knowledge reuse is recognised as a key element to support agile and effective decision-making processes during product development. The provision of information and knowledge for reuse relies on defined information structures and requires computational techniques that enable the reuse process within an integrated environment. Although, representing, saving, and sharing information is relatively well known for product modelling, it is accepted that effective and agile product development also requires knowledge sharing. For this reason, extensions of the Product Model structure are required to support specific product development process phases. This work argues that a product information model combined with extended knowledge models can provide decision support throughout the product development phases. This paper presents the results of an investigation into a specific extended knowledge model concept, named a Product Range Model (PRM), which combines both rule based systems and case based reasoning to provide product design decision support. Two product development scenarios, injection moulding and friction materials, have been selected in order to evaluate the ideas presented. For both applications the relevance of the models to support the capture and reuse of information and knowledge is stressed.

Estudo da redução de espessura de suporte metálico em pastilhas de freio automotivo

Brake system is a critical component for vehicle safety and performance. One type of brake system widely used in passenger cars is disc brake system due to its compactness and efficient heat dissipation. In this system brake pads play a key function, distributing the hydraulic force by the uniform contact with the brake disk with no deformations. Brake pads are composed of a support metallic backplate, where friction material is adhered. This work presents a study to evaluate the minimum acceptable backplate thickness, considering passenger vehicles braking performance and requirements. The main parameters evaluated on this work were associated with braking torque and force and working temperature. These parameters were validated based on dynamometer tests under severe braking conditions together with tensile and micro hardness tests. Results showed that a reduction up to 1 mm in backplate thickness is possible, complying with all mechanical and thermal specifications required for braking systems

Product Development Process Comparison within Automotive Supply Chain

Global supply chain scenario demands companies working in a collaborative approach in order to develop products efficiently. Thus, Product Development Process (PDP) must occur in parallel throughout the companies chain requiring a minimum level of alignment between these processes. This research presents a study developed within an automotive supply chain, where each company PDP was compared with two PDP reference models: an Academic and an Industrial. The comparison was realized analysing each company, by observations and interviews, where its PDP activities where compared with both models activity structure. For the supply chain chosen, the research has shown that there is a high level of alignment of the companys PDP models to the industrial model and a good association with the academic reference model, depending on the companys position in the supply chain.