An ontology framework for developing platform-independent knowledge-based engineering systems in the aerospace industry

This paper presents the development of a novel knowledge-based engineering (KBE) framework for implementing platform-independent knowledge-enabled product design systems within the aerospace industry. The aim of the KBE framework is to strengthen the structure, reuse and portability of knowledge consumed within KBE systems in view of supporting the cost-effective and long-term preservation of knowledge within such systems. The proposed KBE framework uses an ontology-based approach for semantic knowledge management and adopts a model-driven architecture style from the software engineering discipline. Its phases are mainly (1) Capture knowledge required for KBE system; (2) Ontology model construct of KBE system; (3) Platform-independent model (PIM) technology selection and implementation and (4) Integration of PIM KBE knowledge with computer-aided design system. A rigorous methodology is employed which is comprised of five qualitative phases namely, requirement analysis for the KBE framework, identifying software and ontological engineering elements, integration of both elements, proof of concept prototype demonstrator and finally experts validation. A case study investigating four primitive three-dimensional geometry shapes is used to quantify the applicability of the KBE framework in the aerospace industry. Additionally, experts within the aerospace and software engineering sector validated the strengths/benefits and limitations of the KBE framework. The major benefits of the developed approach are in the reduction of man-hours required for developing KBE systems within the aerospace industry and the maintainability and abstraction of the knowledge required for developing KBE systems. This approach strengthens knowledge reuse and eliminates platform-specific approaches to developing KBE systems ensuring the preservation of KBE knowledge for the long term.     

A co-operation framework for product–process integration in engineering design

Many different studies have stressed the importance of co-operation in engineering design. This paper is based on an empirical study carried out over 18 months and based on fieldwork where the researcher worked in a design team as a mechanical engineer. The question of product–process integration is particularly critical in mechanical engineering and requires the development of specific co-operative procedures. Our results stress the importance of artefacts as intermediary objects in the design process and more specifically in the development of co-operative processes. We developed a framework centred on three conceptual levels:

• At product level, where we developed specific artefacts within a CAD environment, referred to herein as co-operating features,

• At organisation level, where we stress the importance of developing organisational learning and a new interface role,

• At actor level, where we stress the importance of developing reflective practices.

This conceptual framework aims to provide a foundation to develop instrumental settings for design co-operation.     

Integrated design approach for advanced aerospace vehicles

Advanced aerospace vehicle design requires special design features that should meet the mission requirements of high payload to weight ratio in the case of space launchers and low radar cross-section for specific missiles/aircraft. The conventional design packages used are discussed in relation to their constraints. An interactive integrated design approach to eliminate the constraints imposed by individual design modules through interface design modules is discussed. Typical examples of such interface design modules are given. Also, a computer network necessary for an interactive integrated design approach interfacing the mainframe with a computer-aided design and drafting system and parallel processing is presented. This note has been prepared based on detailed discussions with designers in various areas of technology.     

A dynamic knowledge management framework for the high value manufacturing industry

Dynamic knowledge management (KM) is a combination of cultural and technological factors, including the cultural factors of people and their motivations, technological factors of content and infrastructure and, where these both come together, interface factors. In this paper a dynamic KM framework is described in the context of employees being motivated to create profit for their company through product development in high value manufacturing. It is reported how the framework was discussed during a meeting of the collaborating company's (BAE Systems) project stakeholders. Participants agreed the framework would have most benefit at the start of the product lifecycle before key decisions were made. The framework has been designed to support organisational learning and to reward employees that improve the position of the company in the market place.     

A treatise on order in engineering design research

Engineering design research shows a rather fragmented, if not a chaotic, picture. But does it have a hidden order? Can we explore it, or should we impose a reasoning model? This paper looks for the answer in the purpose of engineering design. It is destined to sustain human existence and well being by virtual creation of artifacts and services for the society. To this end, the engineering design discipline should provide a proper body of knowledge. The design knowledge obtained by empirical exploration and/or rational comprehension should be transformed for practical/pragmatic deployment. It was assumed that this purposely streaming of design knowledge gives a unique rationale for engineering design research. Based on this, a framework of reasoning was constructed, including source, channel, and sink categories of knowledge and research of engineering design, respectively. Within each category, research domains, trajectories, and approaches were identified. The semantic relationships of domains, trajectories, and approaches form a hierarchical structure. The proposed framework enables a grounded argumentation about the order of engineering design research, as well as about the articulation of the engineering design knowledge.     

A cross-disciplinary technology transfer for search-based evolutionary computing: from engineering design to software engineering design

Although object-oriented conceptual software design is difficult to learn and perform, computational tool support for the conceptual software designer is limited. In conceptual engineering design, however, computational tools exploiting interactive evolutionary computation (EC) have shown significant utility. This article investigates the cross-disciplinary technology transfer of search-based EC from engineering design to software engineering design in an attempt to provide support for the conceptual software designer. Firstly, genetic operators inspired by genetic algorithms (GAs) and evolutionary programming are evaluated for their effectiveness against a conceptual software design representation using structural cohesion as an objective fitness function. Building on this evaluation, a multi-objective GA inspired by a non-dominated Pareto sorting approach is investigated for an industrial-scale conceptual design problem. Results obtained reveal a mass of interesting and useful conceptual software design solution variants of equivalent optimality—a typical characteristic of successful multi-objective evolutionary search techniques employed in conceptual engineering design. The mass of software design solution variants produced suggests that transferring search-based technology across disciplines has significant potential to provide computationally intelligent tool support for the conceptual software designer.     

A framework for performance-based design

The international competitiveness of the US construction industry is linked to its strategic ability to design and build quality projects. This means delivering facilities that satisfy all the needs of the client. Correct decision-making during design and construction planning is the best means for assuring a quality project. Performance-based design is a framework that enables the project team to approach the project delivery process systematically and provides basic principles for evaluating and comparing alternative solutions. The principles of axiomatic design (as previously advanced by Suh) and the concept of an interface index are key elements of the framework. Axiomatic design provides an operational structure for the design process as well as a set of basic principles or axioms for guiding each decision-maker. The interface index complements the design axioms by quantifying the effort associated with integrating the contributions of multiple decision-makers into a total system. Elements of the framework are demonstrated through application to an actual facility.     

Generic research for design of made-to-order engineering products

The paper identifies those design research issues which, while being of particular interest to the made-to-order (MTO) sector, have a wide applicability. An overview of the Newcastle EDC research programme is provided and the research topics are set in the context of two themes— design strategies and design integrity. The process of adapting the results of research aimed at producing generic results in a form suitable for application to specific product types is illustrated by describing two projects in detail. Finally, the hetrogenous nature of the Newcastle EDC environment is described and particular references are made to industrial collaboration, technology transfer, training and education.     

Mind systems imitation and emulation framework for service design and production

Knowledge creation and knowledge are the primary sources of productivity, profitability and company growth in the twenty-first century. Our approach is to use brain-based metaphors and models to better understand what kind of services we should be able to design and produce now and in the future. We propose new kind of services that will be able to imitate, emulate and support the mind structures of individuals, groups, teams, companies and organisations in dynamic business situations. The services should support human memory systems, motivational systems, interpreting systems and automatic systems and their sub-systems as they are actively present in living human systems. We have named our approach as Mind Systems Imitation and Emulation Framework. Different engineering disciplines will be jointly responsible for developing and applying such services now and in the future. As an example, a Democratic Company Culture tool Accord is described.     

A chemical engineering design view of biotechnology

The possibilities of biotechnology are being widely discussed and promoted. Because of this there will be many studies directed at evaluating biotechnology projects. At some stage this will require the generation of potential process plant designs. The paper provides an introduction to those aspects of biotechnology which will be the concern of the chemical engineer, with an emphasis on design tasks. This is supported by a commentary on the similarities with and differences from mainline chemical engineering design. In addition the principal material relating to design has been drawn together from the available literature and summarized for engineers new to the area of biotechnology.     

A methodology of integrating affective design with defining engineering specifications for product design

Affective design and the determination of engineering specifications are commonly conducted separately in early product design stage. Generally, designers and engineers are required to determine the settings of design attributes (for affective design) and engineering requirements (for engineering design), respectively, for new products. Some design attributes and some engineering requirements could be common. However, the settings of the design attributes and engineering requirements could be different because of the separation of the two processes. In previous studies, a methodology that considers the determination of the settings of the design attributes and engineering requirements simultaneously was not found. To bridge this gap, a methodology for considering affective design and the determination of engineering specifications of a new product simultaneously is proposed. The proposed methodology mainly involves generation of customer satisfaction models, formulation of a multi-objective optimisation model and its solving using a chaos-based NSGA-II. To illustrate and validate the proposed methodology, a case study of mobile phone design was conducted. A validation test was conducted and the test results showed that the customer satisfaction values obtained based on the proposed methodology were higher than those obtained based on the combined standalone quality function deployment and standalone affective design approach.     

Methods and tools for decision making in engineering design

This paper describes the background to the setting up of the Cambridge Engineering Design Centre. An overview of the design research and applications programme of the Cambridge EDC is given. Four research themes are identified: functional modelling, configuration and manufacturing optimization, materials and process selection, and process interpretation and management. Application areas include aerospace systems, heavy duty vehicles and medical equipment.     

A knowledge-based system for materials selection in mechanical engineering design

This paper studies various work on the development of computerized material selection system. The importance of knowledge-based system (KBS) in the context of concurrent engineering is explained. The study of KBS in material selection in an engineering design process is described. The development in materials databases, which sometimes serve as material selection packages, is also discussed. The use of KBS in material selection and the application in the domain of polymeric-based composite are chosen as typical examples.     

Challenges in alloy design: Titanium for the aerospace industry

This review describes the principles governing the design of titanium alloys for engine and airframe applications in the aeronautical industry. The relationships between processing, microstructure and properties of the commonly used α + β titanium alloys are described in some detail. The ‘state of science’ is seen to be sufficiently advanced to enable the metallurgist to optimally design this class of alloys to meet specific requirements. The challenges to the alloy designer lie in increasing the temperature capability of titanium alloys, and in standardising processing techniques which will decrease the high manufacturing costs of components.     

A genetic algorithm for sequencing type problems in engineering design

A genetic algorithm for engineering applications that involve sequencing of operations is proposed and demonstrated. Such applications are known as travelling salesman problems in operations research literature. The proposed algorithm uses some new operators that are different from those typically used in genetic algorithms. Some enhancements for improving performance of the algorithm are also described. Treatment of two salesmen in the problem is also discussed. Results for test problems, including a vehicle A-pillar subassembly welding sequence application, show performance of the proposed algorithm to be quite robust. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

工业设计中的知识管理

论述了建立面向工业设计的知识管理系统,对实现企业内、外部知识共享、知识应用和知识创新,保持设计师持续快速创新能力和企业新产品开发能力的重要作用,以及如何建立服务于工业设计的知识管理系统.