A feature-based approach towards an integrated product model in intelligent design

Conceptual design is an early stage in the product design process, which has an essential effect on the product innovation. Existing approaches for product knowledge engineering for conceptual design always focus on knowledge modelling and organization, etc. However, the traditional approach is lack of better comprehending representation and reuse of design knowledge in conceptual design. This paper is devoted to presenting a systematic effective integrated modelling approach of principle solutions in conceptual design to make the knowledge of functional design be transferred efficiently to the subsequent principle conceptual design and structure conceptual design process, and even detail design. With the introduction of the physical quantity model, feature-based representation model of function, effect, physical quantity, working principle and structure concept are put forward step by step, and then an integrated principle solution model is presented based on the generalized assembly model. The knowledge organization method of principle solutions based on physical quantities is also proposed. Conceptual design process based on integrated modelling and knowledge organization of principle solutions is presented, which discloses that physical quantity model is a bridge across functional design, principle conceptual design and structure conceptual design. The conceptual design of new devices for decreasing resistance of petroleum equipment offshore platform is given as an example, which demonstrates that the methodology is obviously helpful to increase opportunities for product innovation in conceptual design.