YSL Workshop on DC

1
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
Fayyaz Rehman(PhD Student) Dr. Xiu-Tian
Yan(Supervisor) CAD Centre, DMEM, University of
Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
2
Introduction
Introduction

• Conceptual Design can be defined as the
  transition between four different information
  states
• A set of required functions
• A initial set of possible solutions/means to
  fulfil the function
• A set of behaviours that fulfil the function
• Final selected concept(s)/solution(s) that
  generate the behaviours

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
3
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Introduction
Conceptual Design in Design Process

• Functions, behaviour and form are major elements
  of information

Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
4
Related Work in Function to Form Mapping
Introduction
Conceptual Design in Design Process

• Drawbacks of available Function to Form mapping
  methodologies and frameworks
• Most of the work has been done from the
  perspective of functional requirements only-
  Requires methodology to bring down stream product
  life cycle information for consideration at
  conceptual design stage.
• Emphasis was on the representation of energy
  flow, transformation dissipation only Less
  work has been done on other type of functions
  such as Assembly/Conveyance functions.
• Domain dependant Methodology is valid only for
  the area selected for implementation- Difficult
  to scale up domain knowledge representation

Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
5
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Introduction
Research Aim
Conceptual Design in Design Process

• Develop a computational framework to support
  function means evolution of a product through
• Developing a methodology to incorporate the
  consideration of design solution consequences at
  conceptual design stage using design context
  information
• Establishing relationship between functional
  requirements of product and design context
  information

Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
6
Design Context Knowledge
Introduction

• Definition of Context
• Context is the set of facts or circumstances
  that surround a situation or event (Charlton
  Wallace 2000)
• Design Context is the information not necessary
  for the representation of the product itself, has
  an impact of the process of designing and
  subsequently on artefact (Brezillon and
  Cavalcanti 1997)
• Design Context is Related background information
  of the a design problem under consideration.

Conceptual Design in Design Process

Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design

• Design Context Information can include
• Life Cycle Issue(s), goal(s) or requirement(s).
• User Information (Specific age group/gender/produc
  t preference).
• Partial Solution Information in current working
  knowledge generated up till current stage of
  design process
• The physical surroundings with which the product
  can interact

Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
7
Design Context Knowledge
Introduction
Design Context Knowledge Based Function Means
Mapping Model

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
8
Design Context Knowledge
Introduction
Context Knowledge Based Function Reasoning
Mechanism
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
9
Function Means Mapping inSheet Metal Design
Introduction

• Function of sheet Metal Products
• Conveyance or Assembly/Hold type functions
• Conveyance Type
• Convey, Channel, Direct,
• Guide etc. Residential and
• Commercial products

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
(2) Assembly/Hold Type Constrain, Enclose,
Fasten, Guide, Orient, Position etc. Industrial
products
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
10
Function Means Mapping inSheet Metal Design
Introduction

• PDE based Functional Design
• Product Design Element (PDE) is
• a reusable design information unit
• representing potential solution
• means for a function requirement
• of an artefact.
• PDEs can be at Assembly, Sub-Assembly
• Component or Component Building Level
• Product Design Elements (PDEs) at
• Component building level are Manufacturing
• Features, which can possibly a means of
• achieving desired functional requirement.
• These PDEs are Slot, Hole, Bend, Notch,
• Lance,Curl, Emboss, Bead, Rib, etc.

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
11
Function Means Mapping inSheet Metal Design
Introduction

• PDE based Functional Design (contd..)
• PDEs allow mapping between function requirements
  and physical solutions of a product using well
  understood Function-PDEs relationships.
• PDEs are the vehicles to bring basic design
  information to the downstream product realisation
  phases for embodiment, detailed part design and
  later life cycle processes.

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
12
Function to Form Mapping inSheet Metal Design
Introduction

• Life Cycle Consequences (LCCs) Based Function
  Reasoning
• Each design decision cause consequences on the
  later life cycle phases (Manufacturing, Assembly,
  Use, Maintenance, Recycle/Dispose) of the
  product

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
13
Function to Form Mapping inSheet Metal Design
Introduction

• Life Cycle Consequences (LCCs) based Function
  Reasoning (contd.)
• Example
• Functional Requirement ltProvide Assemblygt
• Solution Space ltHole-Fastenergt,
  ltAssembly-Slotgt, ltUltrasonic Bondgt, ltWeldinggt,
  ltLance-Fitgt
• Selected Solution ltHole-Fastenergt
• Consequences

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Hole-RequiredgtBolt RequiredgtViolation of DFA
rule
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
14
Function to PDE Mapping Model in Sheet Metal
Introduction
Initial Function Requirements
Decomposition of the Intended function
Support Assemble Two Components
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Decomposed Function Requirements
Identification of the Means for a mapped intended
function
Support Assemble Two Components
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Identification of the Context of Design Problem
Initial Generated Function Means
Support Assemble Two Components
Hole-Fastener
Design Contex Knowledge based function-means
evolution
Assembly-Slot
Design Context Knowledge
Lance-Fit
General Context (Material/ Environment etc.)
Life Cycle Context Knowledge
User Context Knowledge
Current Working Design Context Knowledge
Soldering
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
As material for one of the components is plastic,
therefore soldering is eliminated
Function Reasoning using Design Context Knowledge
Selection of best alternative using decision
theory
Prototype System
More Parts, Violation of DFA principle
Risk during use due to sharp edges
Good Performance During Heated Environment
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
15
Prototype System
Introduction
System Architecture
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
16
Prototype System
Introduction
Screen Shot
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
17
Prototype System
Introduction
Screen Shot
Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
18
Prototype System
Introduction
Future Work
Conceptual Design in Design Process

• Determination of relationships between context
  knowledge consequences for currently considered
  function and other functions.
• Extend the scope of proactive support from
  component building level design stage of a
  product to assembly level stage.
• Completion of prototype system for wide variety
  of complex functions performed by sheet metal
  products.

Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
19
Conclusions
Introduction

• Incorporating downstream Design Context
  Consequences information at conceptual/functional
  design stage could provide designer an
  opportunity to explore more design alternatives
  and avoid un-intended problematic consequences.
• Life Cycle Consequences influence the behaviour
  of the life phase under consideration in terms of
  performance measures such as cost , time and
  quality
• This approach would reduce the chances of
  re-design and subsequently time and cost which
  would be incurred in case of selecting a solution
  having un-intended problematic consequences

Conceptual Design in Design Process
Previous Work In Function Means Mapping
Design Context Knowledge
Function Means Mapping Sheet Metal Design
Prototype System
Conclusions
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product
20
Thank-You Questions? fayyaz_at_cad.strath.ac.uk
Proactive Decision Support at the Conceptual
Design Synthesis of a Product