Constrained functional knowledge modelling and clustering to support conceptual design

Abstract

This article presents a functional knowledge modelling and clustering scheme that supports conceptual design process. First, a general framework is introduced. Second, a new constrained functional knowledge model (CFKM) is presented. The details of the model include functional knowledge-related definitions, construction process of CFKM, concept of function relevancy, and structure relevancy. Finally, the proposed functional knowledge modelling method is applied to conceptual design of ‘sealing’ function in a hydraulic cylinder, which demonstrates the possibility in utilizing the functional knowledge with a unified systematic modelling scheme. The construction of CFKMs and the corresponding functional knowledge base is also contributed to intelligent conceptual design system in the future.

Research on new creative conceptual design system using adapted case-based reasoning technique

“…Based on the NIST functional basis taxonomy, Fernandes et al (2011) presented the semantic relatedness uniqueness metric to provide designers a measure of their effectiveness by generating unique design concepts. Hu et al (2012) proposed a two-level clustering algorithm for case retrieval considering four types of design knowledge: numeric, linguistic terms, fuzzy sets, and Boolean. Guo et al (2012) proposed a hybrid similarity measure for injection mold design based on ontology.…”

“…Table 4 presents the comparison of the proposed method and other related methods, for example, traditional CBR (TCBR; Yang & Chen, 2011), multiagent based CBR (MCBR; Epstein et al, 2013), genetic algorithm based CBR (GCBR; Yang & Wang, 2008), requirement function behavior principle solutions (Ma et al, 2013), and CFKM based CBR (Hu et al, 2012). Table 4 shows that MCBR, GCBR, CFKM and the proposed method perform better than TCBR in all evaluation indexes.…”

Constrained FBS knowledge cell model, representation, and applications for conceptual design

“…3 Since conceptual design is a kind of function centered activities, the importance of utilizing function in the conceptual design process is widely recognized and studied in the field of knowledge representation. 4–6 In order to represent and reuse functional knowledge well, Pahl and Beitz 4 suggested a function-based systematic design procedure by decomposing required function into sub-function that could be mapped to appropriate physical elements and recomposing the physical elements to generate new design solutions. Stone and Wood 7 presented a formalized function representation called functional basis by introducing taxonomies of function and flows as well to simplify design knowledge representation and reuse.…”

“…Hu et al. 6 described the constrained function knowledge model (CFKM) and a relevancy-based clustering strategy for design knowledge reuse to support conceptual design. Ma et al.…”

“…Goel et al 13 defined the structure-behavior-function (SBF) model, in which natural language and input-output flow were introduced to support functional modeling and analogy-based reasoning process. Hu et al 6 described the constrained function knowledge model (CFKM) and a relevancybased clustering strategy for design knowledge reuse to support conceptual design. Ma et al 14 proposed a requirement-function-behavior-principle solutions (RFBPs) model as the design process model, in which a functional elements (called FBS knowledge cell) based design synthesis algorithm was implemented to generate the design solutions.…”