A dual-stage functional modelling framework with multi-level design knowledge for conceptual mechanical design

Supporting the conceptual stage of mechanical product design has been recognized as a challenging research work. This is an area that is not addressed by current computer-aided design systems. In this paper, we present our work on the identification of functional design knowledge and the strategies for its organization. The functional design knowledge is aimed at assisting the conceptual stage of mechanical product design using a dual-stage functional modelling framework proposed by us. Several aspects of functional design knowledge are identified and represented, including function decomposition and functional mapping knowledge, physical structure and physical phenomena knowledge, as well as schematic geometry knowledge. These different aspects of knowledge are organized into three levels: meta level, physical level, and geometric level. A number of libraries are used to implement the design knowledge and its organization. The strength of the approach is that it encompasses very comprehensive aspects of functional design knowledge, and it provides a useful means for compiling past design experience in a formalized and structured form. To demonstrate how the approach can be applied, an example of automatic assembly system design is also studied.