Computational model for conceptual design based on extended function logic

AbstractFunction logic methods have been successfully used in Value Analysis (VA) and Value Engineering (VE) for several decades. This functional approach attempts to provide a common language for specialists in multiple domains. This paper describes an extension of function logic that assists in systematic identification of design functions, allocations, and their interrelations. Our approach identifies a three-level function/allocation/component information structure to represent the state of the design. We illustrate new types of links that exist between functions and the effect of these on the representation of the interrelated functions. These linkages provide new pathways for design information and function evaluation through allocation arithmetic and supported functions. A computational model of the conceptual design process is proposed based on the extended function logic design representation. An outline of the inputs, outputs and operations on form and function variables is given as a step prior to the synthesis process. We illustrate, by example, the process of translating functional representations across specialist domains. Finally, a computer-based aid to developing functional models is described.

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Value Engineering-Oriented Approach to Evaluating Conceptual Design Schemes of Sugarcane Harvester

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.468-471.1300 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 468-471 ◽

pp. 1300-1307

Author(s):

Hong Jun Zhu

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Design ◽

Cost Estimation ◽

Value Engineering ◽

Function Evaluation ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Determine Function ◽

Sugarcane Harvester ◽

Scheme Evaluation ◽

And Function ◽

Exponential Smoothing Method

In order to improve agricultural machinery product value in conceptual design scheme evaluation, a novel approach was put forward to evaluate conceptual design schemes in the view of value engineering. Realization of the method was divided into cost estimation and function evaluation. In cost estimation, weighted mahalanobis distance between historical data and estimating product schemes were calculated to express their similarity, their cost attributes were described by different membership functions, exponential smoothing method was selected to get estimation solution; in function evaluation, evaluation assignment was chosen to determine function coefficients of different schemes, by using improved AHP to modify judgment matrix. An example of sugarcane harvester is given to illustrate the validity and feasibility of proposed method.

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TOWARDS FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DECOMPOSITION OF CONSTRAINED LAYER INFLATABLE SYSTEMS

Proceedings of the Design Society ◽

10.1017/pds.2021.583 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 3219-3228

Author(s):

Koray Benli ◽

Jonathan Luntz ◽

Diann Brei ◽

Wonhee Kim ◽

Paul Alexander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Design ◽

Form And Function ◽

New Concepts ◽

Wide Range ◽

Systematic Understanding ◽

And Function

AbstractPneumatically activated systems enable myriad types of highly functional inflatables employing a wide range of architectural approaches affecting their form and function, making systematic conceptual design difficult. A new architectural class of pneumatically activated systems, constrained layer inflatable systems, consists of hierarchically architected flat layers of thin airtight bladders that are internally and/or externally constrained to generate a variety of functionalities. The highly hierarchical architectural structure of constrained layer inflatable systems coincides with the hierarchy of produced functions, providing an opportunity for the development of a functional architectural decomposition, capturing the inherent relationship between architectural and functional hierarchies. The basis of the approach is conveyed through the design of an example constrained layer inflatable system. This approach empowers the systematic understanding of the interrelated architectural and functional breakdown of constrained layer inflatable systems, enabling designers to iteratively analyze, synthesize, and re-synthesize the components of the system improving existing designs and exploring new concepts.

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Cleft Sentences: Form, Function, and Translation

Journal of Germanic Linguistics ◽

10.1017/s1470542709000257 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 167-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Klaus Fischer

Keyword(s):

Information Structure ◽

Individual Case ◽

Structural Features ◽

Semantic Transparency ◽

Semantic Equivalence ◽

Form And Function ◽

Form Function ◽

Sentence Construction ◽

Ultimate Cause ◽

And Function

Although cleft sentences are possible constructions in both English and German, they are far more frequent in English texts. Durrell (2002: 479) observes in his Hammer's German Grammar and Usage that “with the exception of the type Er war es, der mich davon abhielt […], cleft sentence constructions sound unnatural in German and should be avoided.” The article discusses the form and function of cleft sentences in the context of other focusing devices. It shows that, although German and English cleft sentences have the same information structure, their stylistic value is very different. Using a short translation, Durrell's observation is confirmed: in translating cleft sentences into German, semantic equivalence is often sacrificed for stylistic appropriateness. Although structural features of both languages are the ultimate cause of the contrast, they cannot explain choices in each individual case. The article argues that structural typology should be complemented with a typology of parole: the respective frequencies of cleft sentences in both languages reflect neatly into the more verbal style, more hierarchical sentence construction and, in certain respects, greater semantic transparency of English texts (by comparison with their German counterparts).*

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Computational Model for the Transition From Peristaltic to Pulsatile Flow in the Embryonic Heart Tube

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.2721076 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 129 (3) ◽

pp. 441-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Larry A. Taber ◽

Jinmei Zhang ◽

Renato Perucchio

Keyword(s):

Computational Model ◽

Pulsatile Flow ◽

Embryonic Heart ◽

Single Muscle ◽

Heart Tube ◽

Endocardial Cushions ◽

Form And Function ◽

Flow Parameters ◽

And Function ◽

Good Agreement

Early in development, the heart is a single muscle-wrapped tube without formed valves. Yet survival of the embryo depends on the ability of this tube to pump blood at steadily increasing rates and pressures. Developmental biologists historically have speculated that the heart tube pumps via a peristaltic mechanism, with a wave of contraction propagating from the inflow to the outflow end. Physiological measurements, however, have shown that the flow becomes pulsatile in character quite early in development, before the valves form. Here, we use a computational model for flow though the embryonic heart to explore the pumping mechanism. Results from the model show that endocardial cushions, which are valve primordia arising near the ends of the tube, induce a transition from peristaltic to pulsatile flow. Comparison of numerical results with published experimental data shows reasonably good agreement for various pressure and flow parameters. This study illustrates the interrelationship between form and function in the early embryonic heart.

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Automatically Synthesizing Principle Solutions in Multi-Disciplinary Conceptual Design With Functional and Structural Knowledge

Volume 2A: 41st Design Automation Conference ◽

10.1115/detc2015-46373 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jin Qi ◽

Jie Hu ◽

Guoniu Zhu ◽

Yinghong Peng

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Design ◽

Structural Knowledge ◽

Synthesis Process ◽

Synthesis Methods ◽

Industrial Case Study ◽

Agent Based ◽

Vibration Impact ◽

And Function ◽

Design Conflicts

Synthesizing principle solutions (PSs) in various disciplines together is a common practice in multi-disciplinary conceptual design (MDCD), which generates the combination of PSs to meet the desired functional requirement. Different from structure- and function-based synthesis methods, a hybrid PS synthesis (HPSS) method through integrating functional and structural knowledge is proposed in this paper, which not only achieves the automated synthesis of multi-disciplinary PSs, but also resolves the undesired physical conflicts during the synthesis process. It comprises of united representation approach for modeling functional and structural knowledge of multi-disciplinary PSs, adapted agent-based approach for chaining the specified functional flows of PSs, and the extension conflict resolve approach for handling the partial design conflicts among selected PSs. An industrial case study on the emergency cutting off (ECO) device design was given to validate the applicability of HPSS, and it indicates that HPSS can not only get multi-disciplinary design result of ECO device, but also further resolve the design conflict (i.e., vibration impact) to optimize the functional structure of ECO device.

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Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of DNA and RNA

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100152148 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 34-35

Author(s):

Patricia G. Arscott ◽

Gil Lee ◽

Victor A. Bloomfield ◽

D. Fennell Evans

Keyword(s):

Molecular Structures ◽

Inorganic Materials ◽

Resolving Power ◽

Scanning Tunneling ◽

Tunneling Microscopy ◽

Form And Function ◽

Dna And Rna ◽

Calf Thymus ◽

And Function ◽

The Relationship

STM is one of the most promising techniques available for visualizing the fine details of biomolecular structure. It has been used to map the surface topography of inorganic materials in atomic dimensions, and thus has the resolving power not only to determine the conformation of small molecules but to distinguish site-specific features within a molecule. That level of detail is of critical importance in understanding the relationship between form and function in biological systems. The size, shape, and accessibility of molecular structures can be determined much more accurately by STM than by electron microscopy since no staining, shadowing or labeling with heavy metals is required, and there is no exposure to damaging radiation by electrons. Crystallography and most other physical techniques do not give information about individual molecules.We have obtained striking images of DNA and RNA, using calf thymus DNA and two synthetic polynucleotides, poly(dG-me5dC)·poly(dG-me5dC) and poly(rA)·poly(rU).

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