Modeling of Evolutionary Design Database

Abstract

This research introduces an evolutionary design database model to describe design requirements and design results developed at different design stages from conceptual design to detailed design. In this model, the evolutionary design database is represented by a sequence of worlds corresponding to the design descriptions at different design stages. The design requirements and design results in each world are modeled using a database representation scheme that integrates both geometric descriptions and non-geometric descriptions. In each world, only the differences with its ancestor world are recorded. When the design descriptions in one world are changed, these changes are then propagated to its descendant worlds automatically. Consistency of the design descriptions in descendant worlds is also checked when design descriptions in an ancestor world are changed. Case study is conducted to show the effectiveness of this evolutionary design database model.

Concepts of change propagation analysis in engineering design

“…As a design evolves through changes, the interdependent representations need to be updated to ensure consistency, which is a form of change propagation (Leng et al 2016;Xue et al 2006).…”

“…Similarly, Leng et al (2016) developed a CPA approach based on manufacturing bill of materials (MBOM) and engineering bill of materials (EBOM) information in a database. Xue et al (2006) developed an evolutionary design database for CPA, which captures geometric evolution alongside other descriptions reflecting different stages of design. In their approach different stages of design are modelled as a collection of worlds.…”

“…In some cases a decomposition of the design into suitable elements for CPA might already be available, while in other situation a decomposition must be developed from specifically for this purpose (Hamraz et al 2012). Some researchers decompose designs based on systematic processes such as creating patterns or clusters in matrices (Chen et al 2007;Li and Chen 2007, 2010, while some use systematic decomposition methods such as functional decomposition (Raffaeli et al 2007;Rios-Zapata et al 2017;Xue et al 2006;Damak et al 2021), function-structure (Ma et al 2008;Albers et al 2011;Li et al 2017), functionbehaviour-structure (Koh et al 2012), function-parameter (Oizumi and Aoyama 2020) and spatial breakdown by the designer or a team of designers (Yu et al 2017).…”

Towards Enabling Visual Design Exploration Involving Multiple Abstractions of Design Descriptions

“…The CPM also allows modeling other aspects such as rationale, requirements and product families. Xue et al [32] introduce the concept of ‗worlds' in capturing the operations performed on the product knowledge model during the design process as a part of an evolutionary design database. CPM forms the underlying product knowledge model, but is extended to include (1) arithmetic and temporal constraints, (2) tasks, and (3) attribute.…”

“…For example in the NIST Core Product Model [31,32], on which the WKM is based, Artifact represents the actual artifact being designed. An artifact is composed of other artifacts leading to a natural extension of an assembly model.…”