Abstract
An integrated knowledge representation model, namely the topology structure behaviour function (TSBF) model, is presented for the computer-aided conceptual design of mechanisms (MCACD) in this paper. The model covers both qualitative and quantitative knowledge representations of generic mechanisms. A class hierarchy consists of the abstract mechanism, the embryo mechanism, and the concrete mechanism is then proposed for object-oriented modelling. Based on the TSBF model, several reasoning techniques are integrated to achieve a relatively comprehensive environment for MCACD. The corresponding reasoning process is mainly based on a backward chaining of solutions representation and retrieval, a forward chaining of compositional behaviour reasoning with constraint propagation and satisfaction, and a forward chaining of type synthesis. Coarse optimizations for certain mechanisms are also integrated on the quantitative level. The applicability of the new model is demonstrated by the conceptual design of a zigzag mechanism.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Zou HJ (2002) Conceptual design of mechanical systems. Mechanical Engineering Publisher, Beijing (in Chinese)
Johnson RC (1978) Mechanical design synthesis – creative design and optimization. Krieger, Melbourne, Florida
Kota S (1993) Type synthesis and creative design of mechanisms. In: Erdman AG (ed.) Modern kinematics, developments in the last forty years. Wiley, New York, pp 27–74
Hsu W, Woon IMY (1998) Current research in the conceptual design of mechanical products. Comput Aided Des 30(5):377–389
Freudenstein F, Dobrjanskyj L (1964) On the theory for the type synthesis of mechanisms. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Applied Mechanics, pp 420–428
Mruthyunjaya TS (2003) Kinematic structure of mechanism revisited (review). Mech Mach Theory 38:279–320
Tsai LW (2001) Mechanism design — enumeration of kinematic structures according to function. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida
Yan HS (1998) Creative design of mechanical devices. Springer, Singapore
Stahovich TF (2001) Artificial intelligence in design. In: Antonsson EK, Cagan J (eds) Formal engineering design synthesis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 228–269
Joskowicz L, Sacks E (1991) Computational kinematics, Artif Intell, 51(1–3):381–416
Artobolevsky I (1979) Mechanisms in modern engineering design, volume 1–4. MIR Publishers, Moscow (English translation)
Joskowicz L, Neville D (1996) A representation language for mechanical behaviour. Artif Intell Eng 10(2):109–116
Subramanian D, Wang CS (1995) Kinematic synthesis with configuration space. Res Eng Des 7:193–213
Kannapan S, Marshek K (1990) An algebraic and predicate logic approach to representation and reasoning in machine design. Mech Mach Theory 25:335–353
Li CL, Tan ST, Chan KW (1996) A Qualitative and heuristic approach to the conceptual design of mechanisms. Eng Appl Artif Intell 9(1):17–31
Chiou SJ, Kota S (1999) Automated conceptual design of mechanisms. Mech Mach Theory 34(3):467–495
Ye ZG, Zou HJ, Wang SZ (2004) The establishment and reasoning of knowledge base system for mechanism kinematic schemes. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 23:295–300
Forbus KD (1980) Spatial and qualitative aspects of reasoning about motion. In: Proceedings of the AAAI-80, AAAI Press, Menlo Park, CA
Faltings B (1990) Qualitative kinematics in mechanisms. Artif Intell 44(1–2):89–119
Faltings B, Sun K (1996) FAMING: supporting innovative mechanism shape design. Comput Aided Des 28(3):207–216
Stahovich TF, Davis R, Shrobe H (1998) Generating multiple new designs from a sketch. Artif Intell 104:211–264
Li CL, Chan KW, Tan ST (1999) A configuration space approach to the automatic design of multiple-state mechanical devices. Comput Aided Des 31:621–653
Roy U, Pramanik N, Sudarsan, R, Sriram RD, Lyons KW (2001) Function-to-form mapping: model, representation and applications in design synthesis. Comput Aided Des 33:699–719
Bracewell RH, Sharpe JEE (1996) Functional descriptions used in computer support for qualitative scheme generation – “Schemebuilder”. Artif Intell Des Anal Manuf 10(4):333–346
Molian S (1969) Storage and retrieval of descriptions of mechanisms and mechanical devices according to kinematic type. J Mech 4:311–323
Hoeltzel DA, Chieng WH (1990) Pattern matching synthesis as an automated approach to mechanism design. J Mech Des 112:190–199
Kota S (1992) Automatic selection of mechanism designs from a three-dimensional design map. J Mech Des 114:359–367
Swedish Institute of Computer Science (2003) SICStus Prolog 3.11.0 User’s Manual. Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Kista, Sweden
Tian YL, Zou HJ, Guo WZ (2003) Study on modelling and simulation methods for constitution objects of mechatronic products based on Matlab-SimMechanics. Mach Des Res 19(5):10–14 (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tian, Y., Zou, H. & Guo, W. An integrated knowledge representation model for the computer-aided conceptual design of mechanisms. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 28, 435–444 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-004-2399-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-004-2399-6