Solving Design Tasks in Engineering Using Object-Oriented Graph-Based Representations and Boolean Satisfiability

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Münzer ◽  
Kristina Shea ◽  
Bergen Helms
Keyword(s):  
Solution Space ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Oriented Graph ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Boolean Satisfiability ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Boolean Satisfiability Problem ◽  
Systematic Solution ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis

Ever since computers have been used to support human designers, a variety of representations have been used to encapsulate engineering knowledge. Computational design synthesis approaches utilize this knowledge to generate design candidates for a specified task. However, new approaches are required to enable systematic solution space exploration. This paper presents an approach that combines a graph-based, object-oriented knowledge representation with first-order logic and Boolean satisfiability. This combination is used as the foundation for a generic, automated approach for requirement-driven computational design synthesis. Available design building blocks and a design task defined through a set of requirements are modeled in a graph-based environment and then automatically transferred into a Boolean satisfiability problem and solved, considering a given solution size. The solution is then automatically transferred back to the graph-based domain. The method is validated through the synthesis of automotive powertrains. The contribution of the paper is a new method that is both able to determine that an engineering task is solvable or not given a set of design building blocks and able to systematically explore the solution space.

Automatically Transforming Object-Oriented Graph-Based Representations Into Boolean Satisfiability Problems for Computational Design Synthesis

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Münzer ◽  
Bergen Helms ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
Space Exploration ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Boolean Satisfiability ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Alcohol Production ◽  
Systematic Solution ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis

Ever since computers have been used to support human designers, a variety of representations have been used to encapsulate engineering knowledge. Computational design synthesis (CDS) approaches utilize this knowledge to generate design candidates for a specified task. However, new approaches are required to enable systematic solution space exploration. This paper presents an approach that combines a graph-based object-oriented knowledge representation with first-order logic and Boolean satisfiability. This combination is used as the foundation for a generic automated approach for requirement-driven computational design synthesis. Available design building blocks and a design task defined through a set of requirements are modeled in a graph-based environment and then automatically transferred into a Boolean satisfiability problem and solved, considering a given solution size. The Boolean solution is automatically transferred back to the graph-based domain. The method is validated through two case studies: synthesis of automotive powertrains and chemical process synthesis for ethyl alcohol production. The contribution of the paper is a new method that is able to determine if an engineering task is solvable for a given set of synthesis building blocks and enables systematic solution space exploration.

Computational Synthesis of Product Architectures Based on Object-Oriented Graph Grammars

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bergen Helms ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
Innovation Process ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Oriented Graph ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Graph Representation ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Graph Grammars ◽  
Computational Synthesis ◽  
The Impact

Computational design synthesis aims to iteratively and automatically generate solution spaces of standard and novel design alternatives to support the innovation process. New approaches are required to generate alternative solutions at the function and behavior level as well as to ease the computational modeling of design knowledge. This paper introduces the approach of object-oriented graph grammars for the computational synthesis of product models based on a Function–Behavior–Structure (FBS) representation. The approach combines the advantages of a generic and systematic design method with a highly computable graph representation and object-oriented concepts. Through this combination, advances in terms of extendibility, efficiency, and flexible formalization of declarative and procedural engineering knowledge are achieved. Validation of the method is given through the synthesis of hybrid powertrains. The generation of hybrid powertrain solution spaces is shown, especially focusing on the impact of an evolving vocabulary, or building blocks, for synthesis. Future work includes integrating search methods in the synthesis process along with quantitative evaluation using simulation methods.

Simulation-Based Computational Design Synthesis Using Automated Generation of Simulation Models From Concept Model Graphs

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Muenzer ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Large Solution ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Concept Model ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis

Current approaches in computational design synthesis (CDS) enable the human designer to explore large solution spaces for engineering design problems. To extend this to support designers in embodiment and detail design, not only the generation of solution spaces is needed but also the automated evaluation of engineering performance. Here, simulation methods can be used effectively to predict the behavior of a product. This paper builds on a general approach to automatically generate solution spaces for energy and signal-based engineering design tasks using first-order logic and Boolean satisfiability. The generated concept model graphs (CMGs) are now in this paper automatically transformed into corresponding bond-graph-based simulation models. To do this, guidelines for creating partial simulation models for the available synthesis building blocks are presented. The guidelines ensure valid causality in the final simulation model. Considering the connections in the concept model graphs, the simulation models are automatically generated and simulated. The simulation results are then used to calculate different objectives, constraints, and performance metrics. The method is validated using automotive powertrains as a case study. One hundred and sixty-two different powertrain concepts are generated and evaluated, showing the advantages of electric powertrains with respect to CO2 emissions and the importance of considering intelligent control strategies in the future for hybrid ones.

Automated Mapping of Physical Effects to Functions Using Abstraction Ports Based on Bond Graphs

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bergen Helms ◽  
Hansjoerg Schultheiss ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Oriented Graph ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Automated Assignment ◽  
Bond Graphs ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Physical Effects ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis

Innovation processes are highly susceptible to cyclic influences, such as evolving knowledge due to new technologies. In order to better meet these challenges, improved computational design support is required. Paper-based design methods have vast amounts of knowledge at their disposal in the form of their design catalogs. However, they lack a corresponding computational implementation that could lead to increased use in design. The method presented is targeted at making the physical effects contained in design catalogs available for use within computational design synthesis approaches. This paper introduces the notion of abstraction ports that are used to represent the valid mapping between functional operators and physical effects. For the automated assignment of abstraction ports, a method is presented that analyzes the equation structure of physical effects. This approach is derived from the modeling technique of bond graphs and is independent of any selection process proposed by design catalogs. Moreover, it allows for the uniform formalization of evolving knowledge in new physical effects that are not yet contained in design catalogs. The assignment of abstraction ports is successfully validated through the formalization of the physical effects of two design catalogs. Furthermore, a software prototype is developed that implements a search process for suitable physical effects for a given function. Future work includes the integration of quantitative characteristics of physical effects and the integration of the approach within the object-oriented graph grammar implementation booggie (project web site: http://booggie.org) for computational design synthesis.

A Spatial Grammar Method for the Computational Design Synthesis of Virtual Soft Robots

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merel van Diepen ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
Objective Function ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Soft Robots ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Spatial Grammar ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis ◽  
Mass Spring

Soft robots are intrinsically compliant, which makes them suitable for interaction with delicate objects and living beings. The vast design space and the complex dynamic behavior of the elastic body of the robots make designing them by hand challenging, often requiring a large number of iterations. It is thus advantageous to design soft robots using a computational design approach that integrates simulation feedback. Since locomotion is an essential component in many robotic tasks, this paper presents the computational design synthesis of soft, virtual, locomotion robots. Methods used in previous work give little insight into and control over the computational design synthesis process. The generated solutions are also highly irregular and very different to hand-designed solutions. Also, the problem requirements are solely modeled in the objective function. Here, designs are generated using a spatial grammar with a rule set that is deduced from known locomotion principles. Spatial grammars make it possible to define the type of morphologies that are generated. The aim is to generate gaits based on different locomotion principles, e.g. walking, hopping and crawling. By combining a spatial grammar with simulated annealing, the solution space is searched for locomotive designs. The designs are simulated using a mass-spring model with stable self-collision so that all generated designs can be evaluated. The resulting virtual designs exhibit a large variety of expected and unexpected gaits. The grammar is analyzed to understand the generation process and assess the performance. The main contribution of this research is modeling of some of the results in the spatial grammar rather than the objective function. Thus, the process is guided towards a class of designs with extremities for locomotion, without having to define the class explicitly. Further, the simulation approach is new and results in a stable method that accounts for self-collision.

scholarly journals Closed Shell Iron(IV) Oxo Complex with an Fe–O Triple Bond: Computational Design, Synthesis, and Reactivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (51) ◽  
pp. 23137-23144
Author(s):  
Erik Andris ◽  
Koen Segers ◽  
Jaya Mehara ◽  
Lubomír Rulíšek ◽  
Jana Roithová
Keyword(s):  
Triple Bond ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Closed Shell ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis

Computational design, synthesis and utilization of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer on graphene oxide nanosheets for highly selective extraction and determination of buprenorphine in biological fluids and tablets

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (43) ◽  
pp. 5214-5226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farideh Ganjavi ◽  
Mehdi Ansari ◽  
Maryam Kazemipour ◽  
Leila Zeidabadinejad
Keyword(s):  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Selective Extraction ◽  
Graphene Oxide Nanosheets ◽  
Imprinted Polymer ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Molecularly Imprinted ◽  
Plasma And Urine Samples ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis

A magnetic MIP for the selective extraction of buprenorphine (BUP) from real plasma and urine samples and tablets based on computational design as a novel procedure has been developed.

Toward an automated approach to the design of sheet metal components

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
ADITYA SOMAN ◽  
SWAPNIL PADHYE ◽  
MATTHEW I. CAMPBELL
Keyword(s):  
Sheet Metal ◽  
User Interaction ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Manufacturing Operations ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Computational Design Synthesis ◽  
Representation Scheme ◽  
Sheet Metal Component ◽  
Synthesis Approach

The design of sheet metal components is perhaps one of the more challenging concurrent activities for design and manufacturing engineers. To aid this design process, a method is developed to encapsulate the constraints of sheet metal that make designing such components a tedious and iterative procedure. This project involves the implementation and testing of a geometric representation scheme for building feasible sheet metal components through the use of 17 grammar rules that capture manufacturing operations like cutting and bending. The implemented system has benefits both as a user interaction tool and as the basis for a computational design synthesis approach for designing sheet metal components. An example of a constructed sheet metal component is shown along with the method for invoking the sheet metal grammar to create this component.

Automated Assignment of Physical Effects to Functions Using Ports Based on Bond Graphs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bergen Helms ◽  
Hansjo¨rg Schultheiß ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Oriented Graph ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Automated Assignment ◽  
Bond Graphs ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Physical Effects

Innovation processes are highly susceptible to cyclic influences, such as evolving knowledge due to new technologies. In order to cope with these challenge, computational support is required. Paper-based design methods have vast amounts of knowledge at their disposal in the form of design catalogues. However, lacking a computational implementation, these knowledge sources provide no support for considering dynamic influences in the innovation process. The presented method is targeted at making the physical effects contained in design catalogues available for computational design synthesis approaches. For this purpose, this paper introduces the notion of abstraction ports that is used to represent the valid mapping between functional operators and physical effects. For the automated assignment of abstraction ports, a method has been developed that analyzes the equation structure of physical effects. This approach is derived from the modeling technique of bond graphs and is independent of any selection process proposed by design catalogues. Moreover, it allows for the formalization of evolving knowledge in new physical effects that are not yet contained in design catalogues. The assignment of abstraction ports has been successfully validated through the formalization of the physical effects of two design catalogues. Future work comprises the integration of quantitative characteristics of physical effects and the realization within the object-oriented graph grammar system booggie.

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