Spatial Layouts of Complex Mechanical Systems

Author(s):  
Yu-Xin Wang ◽  
Yong-Shan Wang ◽  
Alex H. B. Duffy

Spatial layouts for complex mechanical systems are important both for the reliability design and industrial esthetics design of products. Existing of extra constrains caused by specific connections among basic mechanisms makes the layout problem particular and complex. In this paper, several common connecting relations existing in complex mechanical systems are generalized into three kinds of connections, serial connections, parallel connections, and closed connections, and then constrain equations caused by these connections are set up based on transforming matrixes. Expressing spatial spaces occupied by basic mechanisms with cuboid model, and dealing with constrains and interferences in mechanical systems with the fitness function, the spatial layout problem of complex mechanical systems is calculated based on an adaptive genetic algorithm. At last, taking a complex mechanical system consisting of eight basic mechanisms with parallel and serial connections as an example, the efficiency and validity of the algorithm presented in this paper have been verified.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6676
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Salas-Morera ◽  
Laura García-Hernández ◽  
Carlos Carmona-Muñoz

The problem of Unequal Area Facility Layout Planning (UA-FLP) has been addressed by a large number of approaches considering a set of quantitative criteria. Moreover, more recently, the personal qualitative preferences of an expert designer or decision-maker (DM) have been taken into account too. This article deals with capturing more than a single DM’s personal preferences to obtain a common and collaborative design including the whole set of preferences from all the DMs to obtain more complex, complete, and realistic solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the preferences of more than one expert designer have been considered in the UA-FLP. The new strategy has been implemented on a Coral Reef Optimization (CRO) algorithm using two techniques to acquire the DMs’ evaluations. The first one demands the simultaneous presence of all the DMs, while the second one does not. Both techniques have been tested over three well-known problem instances taken from the literature and the results show that it is possible to obtain sufficient designs capturing all the DMs’ personal preferences and maintaining low values of the quantitative fitness function.


2013 ◽  
Vol 307 ◽  
pp. 161-165
Author(s):  
Hai Jin ◽  
Jin Fa Xie

A multi-objective genetic algorithm is applied into the layout optimization of tracked self-moving power. The layout optimization mathematical model was set up. Then introduced the basic principles of NSGA-Ⅱ, which is a Pareto multi-objective optimization algorithm. Finally, NSGA-Ⅱwas presented to solve the layout problem. The algorithm was proved to be effective by some practical examples. The results showed that the algorithm can spread toward the whole Pareto front, and provide many reasonable solutions once for all.


1949 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-288
Author(s):  
B. E. Quinn

Abstract Two types of problems are dealt with in the paper which are involved in the design of mechanisms required to have specified dynamic characteristics: (1) Determination of applied forces required to produce specified dynamic characteristics. (2) Determination of the dynamic characteristics which will result from the application of known forces. While graphical methods may be used in the solution of type (1) problems involving more or less complex mechanical systems, they do not afford a direct approach to type (2) problems. The energy method which will be outlined can be applied in either case, although this paper will be primarily concerned with the determination of the dynamic characteristics which result when a known force is applied to a given mechanism.


Author(s):  
Jonathan S. Colton ◽  
Mark P. Ouellette

Abstract This paper presents a summary of research into the development and implementation of a domain independent, computer-based model for the conceptual design of complex mechanical systems (Ouellette, 1992). The creation of such a design model includes the integration of four major concepts: (1) The use of a graphical display for visualizing the conceptual design attributes; (2) The proper representation of the complex data and diverse knowledge required to design the system; (3) The integration of quality design methods into the conceptual design; and (4) The modeling of the conceptual design process as a mapping between functions and forms. Using the design of an automobile as a case study, a design environment was created which consisted of a distributed problem solving paradigm and a parametric graphical display. The requirements of the design problem with respect to data representation and design processing were evaluated and a process model was specified. The resulting vehicle design system consists of a tight integration between a blackboard system and a parametric design system. The completed system allows a designer to view graphical representations of the candidate conceptual designs that the blackboard system generates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-208
Author(s):  
Varun Kumar ◽  
Girish Kumar ◽  
Rajesh Kumar Singh ◽  
Umang Soni

This paper deals with modeling and analysis of complex mechanical systems that deteriorate with age. As systems age, the questions on their availability and reliability start to surface. The system is believed to suffer from internal stochastic degradation mechanism that is described as a gradual and continuous process of performance deterioration. Therefore, it becomes difficult for maintenance engineer to model such system. Semi-Markov approach is proposed to analyze the degradation of complex mechanical systems. It involves constructing states corresponding to the system functionality status and constructing kernel matrix between the states. The construction of the transition matrix takes the failure rate and repair rate into account. Once the steady-state probability of the embedded Markov chain is computed, one can compute the steady-state solution and finally, the system availability. System models based on perfect repair without opportunistic and with opportunistic maintenance have been developed and the benefits of opportunistic maintenance are quantified in terms of increased system availability. The proposed methodology is demonstrated for a two-stage reciprocating air compressor with intercooler in between, system in series configuration.


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