Conceptual design of technical systems using functions and physical laws

Abstract

Since the operation of technical systems can be explained using physical laws, why then might we not use them explicitly in designing these systems? The characteristic initial binding variable, with which appropriate physical laws are sought, first needs to be extracted from the function of the future technical system. If there are several appropriate physical laws (i.e., operators), we evaluate them using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The most suitable is then selected with regard to the chosen criteria based on design requirements. When one physical law is not sufficient for the design of a technical system, several laws are linked together using binding variables to form a conceptual chain (i.e., macro-operator). Such a chain does not only contain supporting physical laws; physical laws indirectly introduce basic models of shape, their basic topology, geometry, and basic material properties into the chain. A prototype computer-aided design system is based on the prescriptive conceptual design model presented below.

Synthesis of feedback-based design concepts for sensors

“…A number of researchers have used physical laws and effects as basic building blocks to develop functional models (Chakrabarti and Bligh 1996;Zavbi and Duhovnik 2000;Chakrabarti and Regno 2001;Zavbi and Rihtarsic 2010;Rihtarsic et al 2012). This approach often generates solution principles with a greater variety, but occasionally ends up with a number of unrealistic solution principles.…”

“…One approach that a number of researchers (Chakrabarti and Bligh 1996;Zavbi and Duhovnik 2000;Nagel et al 2007;Srinivasan and Chakrabarti 2009) have adopted is to use physical laws and effects as building blocks to generate concepts. This paper adapts this approach-buildingblock-based synthesis using physical effects-for conceptual designs of sensors.…”

Automated Conceptual Design of Multiple Input and Multiple Output Mechanical Transmission System

“…), structural size and economy. Thus, mechanical transmission function can be expressed through changes in motion features [5]. Thereby, only four fundamental characters of them are selected as crucial variables in this paper to represent motions in a qualitative way.…”

“…As conceptual design of mechanical transmission system has an essential effect on product innovation, many researches have been focused on it in recent decades with many valuable fruits [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…Current methods for conceptual design of mechanisms can be classified as element-based synthesis approaches and case-based synthesis approaches [3]. The former approaches [4][5][6] are based on that existing mechanisms are composed of a set of functional elements, with which new mechanisms that can deliver desired functions can be synthesized. The latter approaches [7][8][9] However, the current approaches always focus on the automated synthesis method of SISO systems, and would fail to yield feasible solutions to MIMO system.…”