A product architecture-based tool for bioinspired function-sharing

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Bhasin ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams ◽  
Astrid Layton
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Biological Structures ◽  
Structure Tree ◽  
Single Structure ◽  
Function Sharing ◽  
Architectural Characteristics

Abstract In this work, we show that bioinspired function-sharing can be effectively applied in engineering design by abstracting and emulating the product architecture of biological systems that exhibit function-sharing. Systems that leverage function-sharing enable multiple functions to be performed by a single structure. Billions of years of evolution has led to the development of function-sharing adaptations in biological systems. Currently, engineers leverage biological function-sharing by imitating serendipitously encountered biological structures. As a result, utilizing bioinspired function-sharing remains limited to some specific engineering problems. To overcome this limitation, we propose the Function-Behavior-Structure tree as a tool to simultaneously abstract both biological adaptations and the product architecture of biological systems. The tool uses information from an existing bioinspired design abstraction tool and an existing product architecture representation tool. A case study demonstrates the tool's ability to abstract the product architectural characteristics of function-sharing biological systems. The abstracted product architectural characteristics are then shown to facilitate problem-driven bioinspiration of function-sharing. The availability of a problem-driven approach may reduce the need to imitate biological structures to leverage biological function-sharing in engineering design. This work is a step forward in analyzing biological product architectures to inspire engineering design.

Fostering Function-Sharing Using Bioinspired Product Architecture

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Bhasin ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Classification Framework ◽  
Single Structure ◽  
Design Function ◽  
Function Sharing

Abstract In this work, we deduce principles of bioinspired product architectures to leverage biological function-sharing in engineering design. Function-sharing allows multiple functions to be performed by a single structure and can lead to improvements in cost, weight and other performance characteristics. Billions of years of evolution has led to the emergence of function-sharing adaptations in biological systems. However, the current practice of bioinspired function-sharing is largely limited to the solution-driven mimicry of biological structures. In order to effectively leverage biological function-sharing in engineering design, we model and analyze the product architectures of five generalized case studies from the animal kingdom. Further, we create a categorization framework to explore patterns in the function-sharing scenarios associated with biological product architectures. Our results indicate the existence of four types of modules in the biological systems from the animal kingdom. We use the classification framework to deduce four guidelines for the bioinspiration of product architectures. The deduced guidelines can allow engineers to identify and implement novel function-sharing scenarios in early stages of product design. The application of the guidelines has been demonstrated by using a case study.

Fostering Function-Sharing Using Bioinspired Product Architecture

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Bhasin ◽  
Spencer T. Behmer ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Outlet Port ◽  
Biological Structures ◽  
Single Structure ◽  
Design Function ◽  
Function Sharing

Abstract This work deduces principles of bioinspired product architecture to effectively leverage biological function-sharing in engineering design. Function-sharing enables a single structure to perform multiple functions and can improve the performance characteristics of a system. The process of evolution via natural selection has led to the emergence of function-sharing adaptations in biological systems. However, the current practice of bioinspired function-sharing is largely limited to the solution-driven imitation of biological structures. This work aims to overcome such limitations by performing a function-based analysis of biological product architectures. First, a phylogenetic approach is used to select generalized case studies from the animal kingdom. Next, the product architectures of the selected case studies are then modeled using function modeling and analyzed by clustering the identified functions into modules. A function-based categorization of the sampled biological modules reveals the presence of four types of modules in the biological case studies. Analyzing the function-sharing scenarios associated with each type of biological module enables us to deduce four guidelines for bioinspired development and arrangement of function-sharing modules. Finally, a demonstration study applies the guidelines to the design of an inlet–outlet port for a washer–dryer system. The deduced guidelines can enable engineers to identify function-sharing scenarios in the early stages of product design and reduce the need to imitate biological structures for function-sharing.

Designing Robust Systems Using Bioinspired Product Architecture

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Bhasin ◽  
David Staack ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Biological Systems ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Engineering Systems ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Engineered Systems ◽  
Function Sharing ◽  
Robust Systems ◽  
Random Failures

Abstract This work analyzes the role of bioinspired product architecture in facilitating the development of robust engineering systems. Existing studies on bioinspired product architecture largely focus on inspiring biology-like function-sharing in engineering design. This work shows that the guidelines for bioinspired product architecture, originally developed for bioinspiration of function-sharing, may induce robustness to random failures in engineered systems. To quantify such an improvement, this study utilizes Functional Modeling to derive modular equivalents of biological systems. The application of the bioinspired product architecture guidelines is then modeled as a transition from the modular product architecture of the modular equivalents to the actual product architecture of the biological systems. The robustness of the systems to random failures is analyzed after the application of each guideline by modeling the systems as directed networks. A singular robustness metric is then introduced to quantify the degradation in the expected functionality of systems upon increasing severity of random disruptions. Our results show that a system with bioinspired product architecture exhibits a gradual degradation in expected functionality upon increasing the number of failed modules as compared to an equivalent system with a one-to-one mapping of functions to modules. The findings are validated by designing and analyzing a COVID-19 breathalyzer as a case study.

A Case Study Contrasting German Systematic Engineering Design With Affordance Based Design

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. A. Maier ◽  
Georges M. Fadel
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Customer Needs ◽  
Design Project ◽  
Function Solution ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Design Theories ◽  
High Level

In the young field of engineering design theory, various approaches to design differ in their conceptual bases, methods, and scope. These core differences make comparing design theories difficult. One strategy to overcome these differences, long used in the social sciences to test and compare theories, is the case study. In this paper we adopt a published design project, that of a computer monitor stand, and use it as a case study to compare two design theories. The design project was originally conducted using a form of German Systematic Engineering Design (GSED). We contrast those original results with what is obtainable using Affordance Based Design (ABD). Important insights into the differences between these two design theories quickly emerge. Among the differences found are the ways in which: customer needs data is interpreted and handled, product characteristics are represented, customer needs data flows into the ideation and selection processes, and bound and target data are utilized. Perhaps the most important difference shown is at what stage, and how, the product architecture is designed. In GSED, typically the product architecture arises in a bottom-up fashion from a combination of various sub-function solution principles. However, in ABD, the product architecture is the first subject of ideation and selection, as the high-level architecture determines in a top-down fashion most of the lower-level affordances that are designed subsequently. While no two design projects, design teams, or design methods are the same, it is hoped that this particular case study elucidates some of the salient differences between an established and a nascent design theory.

Idea generation with Technology Semantic Network

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Serhad Sarica ◽  
Binyang Song ◽  
Jianxi Luo ◽  
Kristin L. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Common Sense ◽  
Semantic Network ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Semantic Distance ◽  
The Core ◽  
Design Idea ◽  
Design Ideas ◽  
Design Ideation

Abstract There are growing efforts to mine public and common-sense semantic network databases for engineering design ideation stimuli. However, there is still a lack of design ideation aids based on semantic network databases that are specialized in engineering or technology-based knowledge. In this study, we present a new methodology of using the Technology Semantic Network (TechNet) to stimulate idea generation in engineering design. The core of the methodology is to guide the inference of new technical concepts in the white space surrounding a focal design domain according to their semantic distance in the large TechNet, for potential syntheses into new design ideas. We demonstrate the effectiveness in general, and use strategies and ideation outcome implications of the methodology via a case study of flying car design idea generation.

Study on the Calculation Method of Soil-Nailing for High Soil Slope Based on the Logarithmic Spiral Slippery Fracture

2011 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 1709-1713
Author(s):  
Meng Yang ◽  
Xiao Min Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Calculation Method ◽  
Logarithmic Spiral ◽  
Soil Nailing ◽  
Soil Slope ◽  
Mode Pattern ◽  
Shear Function

This paper introduces a new failure mode pattern of soil slope – the logarithmic spiral slippery fracture. A mathematical model for the logarithmic spiral slippery fracture is established, taking the anti-shear function of the soil-nailing into consideration. The shear of soil-nailing, axial force, and the safety coefficients based on the limiting equilibrium method are derived, leading to an accurate stability analysis of the strengthening of soil slope. A case study shows that the anti-shear function of the soil-nailing can be significant and should not be ignored in engineering design.

scholarly journals Dwelling Is a Key Idea in Traditional Residential Architecture’s Sustainability: A Case Study at Yangwan Village in Suzhou, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6492
Author(s):  
Fengyi Ji ◽  
Shangyi Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Causal Chain ◽  
Architectural Form ◽  
Residential Architecture ◽  
The Core ◽  
Physical Form ◽  
Local Livelihood ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Architectural Characteristics

Previous studies have failed to grasp the essence of traditional building habits responding to natural challenges. Therefore, contradictions arise between unified regulations protecting traditional residential architecture proposed by experts and the diverse construction transformation performed by locals. To resolve these contradictions, fieldwork was conducted in Yangwan, a famous village in South China. The traditional residential architectural characteristics in three periods were obtained and compared. Peirce’s interpretation of the three natures of habit and Heidegger’s dwelling help determine the essence of building habits. The logic in traditional residential architecture is analysed through the “four-layer integrated into one” framework (including the natural environment, livelihood form, institution and ideology), yielding the following results. (1) The characteristics of the residential architectural form change with local livelihood form, institution and ideology. Nevertheless, the process by which local residents think, judge and respond to natural challenges remains unchanged (Thirdness of Habit), forming the core of dwelling. (2) The characteristics of the architectural form are determined by the causal chain of “four-layer integrated into one”. Stable causal chains are formed by the Thirdness of Habit, which represents people’s initiative in addressing natural challenges. Therefore, the protection of traditional residential architecture should centre on dwelling and people’s agency in response to the natural environment rather than on maintaining a unified physical form.

Development of a DSM-Based Methodology in an Academic Setting

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Platanitis ◽  
Remon Pop-Iliev ◽  
Ahmad Barari
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Academic Settings ◽  
Task Durations ◽  
Random Disturbances ◽  
Process Convergence ◽  
Work Transformation

This paper proposes the use of a design structure matrix/work transformation matrix (DSM/WTM)-based methodology in academic settings to serve engineering educators as a facilitating tool for predetermining the difficulty and feasibility of design engineering projects they assign, given both the time constraints of the academic term and the expected skill level of the respective learners. By using a third-year engineering design project as a case study, engineering students actively participated in this comprehensive use of DSM methodologies. The engineering design process has been thoroughly analyzed to determine convergence characteristics based on the eigenvalues of the system followed by a sensitivity analysis on the originally determined DSM based on data provided by students in terms of task durations and number of iterations for each task. Finally, an investigation of the design process convergence due to unexpected events or random disturbances has been conducted. The obtained predictive model of the design process was compared to the actual dynamics of the project as experienced by the students and the effect of random disturbances at any point in the design process has thereby been evaluated.

Studying how genetic variants affect mechanism in biological systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-582
Author(s):  
Francesco Raimondi ◽  
Robert B. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Biological Pathways ◽  
The Relationship

Genetic variants are currently a major component of system-wide investigations into biological function or disease. Approaches to select variants (often out of thousands of candidates) that are responsible for a particular phenomenon have many clinical applications and can help illuminate differences between individuals. Selecting meaningful variants is greatly aided by integration with information about molecular mechanism, whether known from protein structures or interactions or biological pathways. In this review we discuss the nature of genetic variants, and recent studies highlighting what is currently known about the relationship between genetic variation, biomolecular function, and disease.

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