A graph and matrix representation scheme for functional design of mechanical products

This paper presents a graph and matrix representation scheme for the functional design of mechanical products, which provides a good basis to generate an explicit and comprehensive functional model used for functional reasoning. Three key features of the scheme are (1) The representation of the causal way behaviors are interconnected; (2) The representation of two types of functional relations: decomposed into and supported by; and (3) Support for diverse functional reasoning paths: three alternative B-FES/e paths are currently available. The scheme can guide functional design of mechanical products through functional reasoning steps including functional supportive synthesis, causal behavioral reasoning and functional decomposition. The developed functional model and its representation applied in a knowledge-based design environment can speed up the functional design process by automating functional reasoning steps. The proposed approach has been evaluated with a functional design example of a terminal cutoff unit in an automatic assembly system for manufacturing electronic connectors.