11 research outputs found
Expert systems for structural design
No full textThis paper considers the role the computer can have is less formalized phases of the structural design process, particularly during preliminary design. Since preliminary design is based largely on the designers experience, an expert systems approach to developing computer aids is appropriate. Four expert systems are presented: HI-RISE, FLODER, LOCATOR, and STRUPLE
A knowledge-based approach to preliminary design synthesis
No full textDesign synthesis involves producing one or more design solutions. During preliminary design, the form of the design solution is identified such that a few key constraints are satisfied. This form is refined during detail design such that all relevant constraints are satisfied. This paper describes a knowledge-based approach to preliminary design synthesis using constraint-directed search through levels of abstraction to construct a design solution. The approach is implemented in a knowledge-based framework, EDESYN
Synthesis and evaluation of preliminary designs
No full textAbstract: "Design is a process of producing a description of a system or process to satisfy a set of requirements. To support the designer in the identification and composition of components of design solutions requires both synthesis and evaluation methods. Such methods can provide a systematic approach to design, allowing the designer to pursue more alternatives and to evaluate the alternatives based on a discourse of criteria and value. The use of knowledge based techniques for the exploration of synthesis and evaluation methods maintains a separation of method and knowledge, allowing the designer to guide the methods with qualitative or empirical knowledge without sacrificing the benefit of a systematic approach.In this paper, models of knowledge based synthesis and evaluation are presented. Synthesis is based on a constraint directed search through a design space that is decomposed into subsystems, components, and constraints. Evaluation is based on the concept of Pareto optimality for identifying a set of optimal solutions. Both synthesis and evaluation are integrated in a single model for producing alternative design descriptions for a given set of requirements. This model has been implemented as an environment for developing knowledge based synthesis programs, where the experienced designer defines a knowledge base and the designer uses the resulting knowledge base to produce design solutions.
Graphics based preliminary structural design
No full textAbstract: "The development of graphic based preliminary design programs is appealing because preliminary design involves the consideration of alternatives as concepts or sketches. The use of such a program would allow engineering students and new graduates to gain experience directly, through their own trial and error. This paper describes a graph based preliminary design program that was developed to facilitate teaching architect and engineering students about structural design.
Development of an expert system shell for engineering design
No full textAbstract: "This report describes the development of an expert system shell for the preliminary phase (synthesis) of engineering design. It is during this part of the design process that the creativity and experience of an engineer are mostly needed. The increasing complexity of engineering design problems has made synthesis a very difficult process, even to an experienced designer, if not approached in a structured and organized fashion. The proposed shell adopts principles of the morphological approach to design, incorporating heuristics in the form of design constraints.
Using experience to plan the synthesis of new designs
No full textAbstract: "Engineering design is a creative process in which the experience and knowledge of the designer and the design specifications are combined. Facing a new design task, an experienced designer will easily recall a similar case which he or she met before and make an appropriate adaptation of the previous design solution to fit the new situation. This paper proposes a new methodology for automating the use of previous situations and their solutions to plan the synthesis of new designs.
