Multi-skeleton model for top-down design of complex products. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chu, Dexin; Lyu, Guolin; Chu, Xuening; Shen, Jing
• Is Part Of: Advances in mechanical engineering. Volume 8:Number 6(2016:Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Multi-skeleton model -- top-down design -- design parameter -- parameter communication mechanism -- complex products -- meteorological satellite -- crawler crane; Mechanical engineering -- Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1687814016651210
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-8132

Abstract

Generally, there are two alternative design approaches available to engineers: bottom-up and top-down. Considering the sharp increase in the complexity of most mechanical products, the top-down design approach is more widely adopted in the development of complex products. However, in traditional top-down design process, design parameters are communicated through single-skeleton models, and design units are strongly coupled due to the multi-dimensional complexity of products. Toward this end, a new top-down design approach based on multi-skeleton model is proposed in this article. First, in accordance with different kinds of design parameters, three major skeleton models are defined, including location skeleton model, published skeleton model, and design skeleton model. And the characteristics of multi-skeleton models are also described. Then, the top-down design process based on the multi-skeleton model is explored, especially in the multi-skeleton modeling phase. It is also illustrated in detail that how to realize design parameter transmission and design unit reuse. Subsequently, it elaborates the communicating way and structure optimization of design parameters to support parameters controlled publishing and design units reuse. Finally, a meteorological satellite and a crawler crane design cases are implemented to expound the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework.