Cell Cycle Control

AI System Support for Conceptual Design Springer London Berlin Heidelberg New York Barcelona Budapest HongKong Milan Paris Santa Clara Singapore Tokyo John Sharpe (Ed.) AI System Support for Conceptual Design Proceedings of the 1995 Lancaster International Workshop on Engineering Design, 27-29 March 1995 t~, With 169 Figures Springer John E.E. Sharpe Engineering Design Centre Lancaster University Lancaster LAI 4YR. UK ISBN-13: 978-3-540-76000-9 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4471-1475-8 DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4471-1475-8 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data AI System Support for Conceptual Design: Proceedings of the 1995 Lancaster International Workshop on Engineering Design. 27-29 March 1995 I. Sharpe. John 620.0042028563 ISBN-13: 978-3-540-76000-9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study. or criticism or review. as permitted under the Copyright. Designs and Patents Act 1988. this publication may only be reproduced. stored or transmitted. in any form or by any means. with the prior permission in writing of the publishers. or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms oflicences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers. @ Springer-Verlag London Limited 1996 The publisher makes no representation. express or implied. with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. Typesetting: Camera-ready by authors 69/3830-543210 Printed on acid-free paper INTRODUCTION Conceptual design is often considered to be the most important step in the whole product development process, the reason being that more than half of the total life cycle cost is committed and the product quality determined at this stage. A poorly conceived design concept can never be compensated for at the manufacturing stage or via marketing policies. The design process at the conceptual stage is inherently a complex activity, due to the need to satisfy many requirements and comply with diverse types of constraints. Individual designers very often restrict themselves in a situation where they are not able to tackle large and complex systems partly because of a lack of sufficient suitable information and partly because of the limited availability of appropriate computer support tools. There is a growing awareness that designers can benefit substantially from computer support during conceptual design and this is being driven by three factors: • An understanding of the importance of early decisions in the overall success and profitability of a product or scheme, • The growth in the complexity of products and their interdisciplinary nature especially in the design of mechatronic products, • The need to provide AI support to the designer as the numbers of those trained and educated to such functions reduces. This book consists of a collection of papers delivered to the L.ancaster International Workshop on Engineering Design, all of which represent significant contributions to the advancement of computer support for conceptual design. The contributions are not "wish lists" of proposed research, which are becoming rather fashionable, but reports of solid achievements in the field. Also included are two major contributions from industry, which outline the need for conceptual design tools and their potential impacts. Many of the papers cover advanced application of artificial intelligence, 3D solid modelling, simulation and many aspects of on-line support. The concept of this book and the associated workshop was born in the realisation of the need to produce a clear presentation of the formative research. We would very much like to thank all those who have contributed to this book both from academia and industry. Our particular thanks go to the staff of the Lancaster EDe, especially Jan Anderson, who has worked so hard to ensure its success. John E.E. Sharpe Lancaster March 1994 CONTENTS Introduction John E.E. Sharpe Adaptive Search and Optimisation 1. 2. 3. An Adaptive Machine Learning System for Computer Supported Conceptual Engineering Design M J Hague, A Taleb-Bendiab & M J Brandish ........................ The Application of Genetic Algorithms to Conceptual Design M G Hudson & I C Parmee ..................................................... Solution Clustering with Genetic Algorithms and DFA: An Experimental Approach S D Santillan-Gutierrez & I C Wright...................................... 1 17 37 Handling of Geometric Data and Knowledge 4. 5. Handling of Positional Information in a System for Supporting Early Geometric Design X Guan & K J MacCallum ...................................................... 54 An Architecture for the Intelligent Support of Knitwear Design C Eckert & M Stacey... .......... ......... ..... ...... ...... ........................ 71 Knowledge Based Reasoning 6. 7. 8. Representing Conceptual Design Knowledge with Multi-Layered Logic K Clibbon, E Edmonds & L Candy.......................................... 93 A Synthetic Reasoning Method Based on a Physical Phenomenon Knowledge Base M Ishii & T Tomiyama ............................................................ 109 Design Model: Towards an Integrated Representation for Design Semantics & Syntax L B Keat, C L Tan & K Mathur ............................................... 124 Integrated Intelligent Support for Conceptual Design 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Egide: A Design Support System for Conceptual Chemical Process Design R Banares-Alcantara, J M P King & G H Ballinger ................ Development of an Integrated AI System for Conceptual Design Support MXTang ................................................................................ Integrated Platform for AI Support of Complex Design (part I): Rapid Development of Schemes from First Principles R H Bracewell, R V Chaplin, PM Langdon, M Li, V K Oh, J E E Sharpe & X T Yan .......................................................... Integrated Platform for AI Support of Complex Design (part II): Supporting the Embodiment Process R H Bracewell, R V Chaplin, PM Langdon, M Li, V K Oh, J E E Sharpe &XT Yan.................................................... ...... A Computerized Tool to Create Concept Variants from Function Structures D Brady & N P Juster ............................................................. 138 153 170 189 208 Interactive Knowledge Support 14. Integrated Innovative Computer Systems for Decision Support in Bridge Design C J Moore & J C Miles ........................................................... 15. 'MODESSA', A Computer Based Conceptual Design Support System T Kersten............................................................. .............. ..... 16. Interactive Knowledge Support to Conceptual Design L Candy. E A Edmonds & D J Patrick .... ... .............................. 17. A Support System for Building Design - Experiences and Convictions from the Fabel Project B Bartsch-Sparl & S Bakhtari ........... ..... ..... ............................ 227 241 260 279 Intelligent Management of Design Procedures 18. Conflict Management in an Interdisciplinary Design Environment VOh &J E E Sharpe .............................................................. 298 19. A Fuzzy Thesaurus for Semantic Integration of Design Schemes IMirbel ................................................................................... 319 20. Managing Design and Manufacturing Constraints in a Distributed Industrial Environment: The Creation of a Managed Environment for Engineering Design A Med/and .............................................................................. 336 21. Computer Support for Design Team Decisions D G Ullman & D Herling ........................................................ 349 AI Support of Detail Design 22. Use of Visualisation and Qualitative Reasoning in Configuring Mechanical Fasteners G Zhong & M Dooner ............................................................. 23. Conceptual Design of Polymer Composite Assemblies J K McDowell, T J Lenz, J Slick/en & M C Hawley................. 24. Conceptual Design for Mechatronics H P Hi/dre & KAas/and.......................................................... 25. Reasoning and Truth Maintenance of Casual Structures in Interdisciplinary Product Modelling and Simulation ..Y-T Yan & J E E Sharpe.......................................................... 362 377 390 405 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS M J Hague, A Taleb Bendiab & M J Brandish Department of Mechanical Engineering, Design and Manufacture Concurrent Engineering Research Group Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, UK M G Hudson & I C Parmee Engineering Design Centre University of Plymouth Plymouth, UK S D Santillan-Gutierrez & I C Wright Engineering Design Institute Loughborough University ofTechnology Loughborough, UK X Guan & K J MacCallum CAD Centre Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management University of Strathc1yde 75 Montrose Street K Clibbon, E Edmonds, L Candy & D J Patrick LUTCHI Research Centre Department of Computer Studies Loughborough LEll 3TU, UK M Ishii & T Tomiyama Department of Precision Machinery Engineering Faculty of Engineering The University ofTokyo Hongo 7-3-1 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan L B Keat School of Information Technology & Applied Science Temasek Polytechnic 51 Grange Road Singapore 1024 TCLim Department of Information Systems & Glasgow Gl lX] Computer Science Scotland UK National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescenf Singapore 0511 C Eckert Design Discipline The Open University Milton Keynes MK76AA,UK M Stacey .Computing Department The Open University Milton Keynes MK76AA, UK KMathur School of Building & Estate Management National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 0511 R Bafiares-Alcruttara, J M P King & G H Ballinger Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland MXTang Engineering Design Centre Department of Engineering University of Cambridge Trumpington Street Cambridge. CB2 IPZ. UK R H Bracewell. R V Chaplin. P M Langdon. M Li & J E E Sharpe Engineering Design Centre Lancaster University Lancaster LAI 4YR. UK DBrady Keyworth Institute Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Leeds Leeds. LS2 9JT. UK NP Juster Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Leeds Leeds. LS2 9JT. UK C J Moore & J C Miles Cardiff School of Engineering University of Wales College of Cardiff Cardiff CF2 1YF ·Wales. UK T Kersten Technology Application Unit Unilever Research Laboratory Vlaardingen P.o. Box 114 3130 AC Vlaardingen The Netherlands B Bartsch-Sp~l & S Bakhtari BSR Consulting GmbH Wirtstrasse 38 D-81539 Muenchen Germany V K Oh (currently at) Silicon Graphics pte Ltd 83 Science Park Drive # 0403/04 The Curie Singapore 0511 IMirbeI University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis I3S. CNRS-URA 1376 250 Avenue Albert Einstein Sophia-Antipolis 06560 Valbonne France AJMediand School of Mechanical Engineering University of Bath UK D G Ullman & D Herling Department of Mechanical Engineering Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA G Zhong & M Dooner Department of Engineering Design & Manufacture University of Hull UK J K McDowell. T J Lenz. J Sticklen & MCHawley Composite Materials & Structures Center and Intelligent Systems Lab Michigan State University East Lansing MI48824-1326 USA H PHildre N1H Department of Machine Design & Materials Technology N-7034 Trondheim Norway KAasland SINI'EF Materials Technology N-7034 Trondeim Norway X-T Yan (currently at) D.M.E.M. Dept James Weir Building University of Strathclyde Glasgow G I IXJ, Scotland