Design automation with the characteristics properties model and the property driven design for redesign

This paper presents a framework consisting of a mathematical model and an algorithm for representation, analysis and exploration of the design space in redesign problems. The framework develops and extends the existing formalism of the Characteristics Properties Model (CPM) and Property Driven Design (PDD). A platform independent quantitative model based on formal log-ic is presented to map the characteristics and properties, as well as the relations and dependencies between them, along with solution conditions. The model is based on generalization of existing mathematical design models and is support-ed by the development of an algorithm enabling property driven design. The re-sulting framework offers a rich and flexible syntax and vocabulary along with a mathematical and computational tool applicable to mechanical product design

Design Thinking: An Approach with Various Perceptions

Design Thinking has become increasingly popular across different disciplines. However, what it exactly entails is becoming more and more vague, leading to the term being used for many different approaches and applications. This paper presents an interview study with experts on the application and training of Design Thinking in academia and industry. We find a divide with some seeing Design Thinking as a mere toolbox of methods, while others see it as an umbrella term for the mindset that determines how designers think and act. Subjects unanimously attest the approach large potential to support certain types of businesses, when applied under the leadership of trained designers, but see a lot of danger for the approach to become meaningless if it keeps being advertised as an all-purpose problem-solving tool. The interviewees further share extensive experiences on specific success factors and pitfalls in applying Design Thinking in practice

Bio-Brick - Development of Sustainable and Cost Effective Building Material

Building construction is one of the fastest growing industries in India and it puts a huge burden on its limited natural resources. Fired clay bricks are one of the major constituent materials for the construction industry and it produces a huge amount of greenhouse gases. This research tries to highlight the use of alternative materials and how they can be modulated to suit the Indian construction industry. Bio-brick or agro-waste based brick is one such material that has the potential to be a sustainable and cost-effective solution. It acts as good heat and sound insulator and at the same time has overall negative carbon footprint. Additionally, it also acts as a deterrent to stubble burning, prevalent in northern India which causes severe air pollution. Due to its low density, it reduces dead load in high rise structures, thereby making RCC construction more economical. The study also highlights the use of Bio-brick in various areas of a structure. Another important objective of this research is to inspire and motivate architects, designers, researchers and builders to encourage and support the development of such sustainable and eco-sensitive material in construction industry

Management of product characteristics uncertainty based on Formal Logic and Characteristics Properties Model

Uncertainty in product characteristics is ubiquitous in any engineering system at all the stages of product life-cycle. Considering uncertainty from different sources during the product design phase is critical to its reliable performance. This paper presents a framework integrating the uncertainty propagation through different product characteristics and its effect on product properties. The framework consists of three main parts: a descriptive model based on formal logic and characteristics properties model; a mathematical implementation through set theory and probabilistic approach; and an algorithm for design space evaluation and tolerancing. The application of framework is demonstrated through an industrial case study

SUPPORTING INTERDISCIPLINARY SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FUNCTION MODELLING

Industry is confronted with ever-changing and increasing demand of customers on global markets for integration of diverse functions into newly developed products and systems. As a consequence, companies increasingly often combine different engineering technologies into their products necessitating close collaboration of experts from various disciplines. New types of products, such as Product-Service Systems (PSS), which have become increasingly important in the recent past and combine (multi-disciplinary) products with associated services, extend interdisciplinary system development by including further disciplines. Problems in the (cross-disciplinary) exchange of information between the involved designers are considered one of the central risks posed to the success of interdisciplinary system development. Function modelling is expected to provide suitable means for the integration of different disciplines, as it addresses solution finding early in the design process and results in a first abstract representation of the system under consideration. However, a large variety of different and often incompatible function models can be found in the different disciplines, which hampers shared, cross-disciplinary function modelling. The research project presented in this thesis provides comprehensive insights into central barriers and enablers for cross-disciplinary function modelling in the development of mechatronic systems and PSS. Conducted research comprises comprehensive literature reviews of diverse function models and function modelling approaches proposed in disciplinary and interdisciplinary design approaches. The derived insights are complemented by empirical studies in ten companies active in diverse market areas, such as machine design, automotive, aerospace, and consumer product development. The empirical studies provide compelling insights into the actual application of function modelling in different disciplines and design departments, as well as into specific needs and preferences of practicing designers from different disciplines. A central contribution resulting from this research is the ”Integrated Function Modelling framework”, which is intended to address the identified needs and provide practicing designers with a flexible and generic modelling approach supporting interdisciplinary conceptual design. The project is concluded with an initial evaluation of the developed framework in industry and academia

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING – ENABLING DIGITAL ARTISANS

New technologies have always been disruptive for established systems and processes. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is proving to be one such process which has the potential to disrupt handicraft and its manufacturing processes. AM is customisable, adopt multiple materials and is not restricted by the manufacturing process. Our research discusses this global phenomenon with case studies to highlights the growth of a new kind of professionals known as 'Digital Artisans'. These artisans will assimilate the latest technologies with the cultural practices of the societies to create a new genre of products. The evolution of such artisans will be majorly led by people who have an equal inclination towards art and science and can act as the bridge between the handicrafts and technology. The development of such artisans will be supported by academics that will serve as a cradle and expose them to AM, design and handicraft. Its will also help in paving the growth of contemporary artisans who will utilise the strength of algorithms, artificial intelligence, CAD software and traditional aesthetics to create handicrafts of the future. © ICED 2021.All right reserved

The Integrated Function Modelling Framework and its Relation to Function Structures

Research and industrial practice have produced a host of function models and modelling approaches over the last decades. Each of these is meant to support designers in their design endeavours. Industrial practice is excessively diversified in terms of contextual requirements, aims and adopted processes; this automatically begs the question, which of the existing models should be selected for application in a specific situation. This paper sets out to contribute to this discourse. It strives to benchmark the fairly novel Integrated Function Modelling (IFM) framework against the well-established function structures modelling approach. The paper comparatively investigates the respective capabilities of the approaches, following the benchmarking protocol used earlier in relation to this Special Issue. Function structures are used as reference as they represent one of the most widespread function modelling approaches in research and practice. Both function structures and the IFM framework are exemplarily applied for modelling a glue gun. The gradual generation and refinement of the models is used to showcase their respective benefits and shortcomings. Eventually, the IFM framework is found to excel over function structures in terms of comprehensiveness and support for different types of function analyses. Finally, future research directions are proposed

Application of Design Models in Mechatronic Product Development and Building Design Reflection of Researchers and Practitioners

Design models are an essential means for abstract representation and visualisation of information in the design process. Comprehension of design models in interdisciplinary engineering design teams is often hindered by different terminology and different discipline-specific modelling approaches. This paper presents the results of an interview study conducted with practitioners and researchers from engineering design and building design. The study elaborates the different ways of collaboration and use of design models in building design as compared to engineering design, in order to derive the potentials for cross-fertilisation between both areas of product development

Which visualisation tools and why? Evaluating perceptions of student and practicing designers toward Digital Sketching

An ever-increasing array of design visualisation tools is available to designers. As such, design education is constantly challenged to keep up with these trends so that students are best equipped for entering industrial practice. This paper reports a study into the use of digital sketching, a relatively new digital visualisation tool. The study aims to identify thematic differences in how students and practitioners perceive digital sketching in terms of the tool’s characteristics, and how these characteristics guide its application in early stages of the design process. Data on perceptions is captured using design diaries and semi-structured interviews. Results show key differences in the way that practitioners perceive the intent of visualisation. Practitioners focus on iterating toward a solution during the design process, while students are much more focused on the task of creating visualisations. This reveals an underlying contradiction in the way tools are perceived between creating visualisations to gain expertise or skill versus creating them to advance the design process. The insights help improve our understanding of how the different characteristics of digital sketching inform its use and reflect on how we educate students with respect to selecting and using digital sketching. We conclude with implications from this for education of digital sketching, as well as other emerging digital visualisation tools