Y. Zeng et P. Gu, A science-based approach to product design theory - Part II: formulation of design requirements and products, ROBOT CIM, 15(4), 1999, pp. 341-352
The Design Process begins with design requirements and ends with product de
scriptions. The design requirements include both structural and performance
aspects. The product descriptions deal with the structural aspect of the d
esign requirements while the product performances describe the performance
aspect of design requirements. In this part of the paper, a set theory-base
d representation scheme is proposed to represent design objects in the desi
gn process, including design requirements, product descriptions, and produc
t performances. This representation scheme can represent the design objects
that evolve in dynamic design processes. The entire mathematical scheme is
defined based on structural and behavioral properties. Within one uniform
scheme, the design objects are represented at different levels of complexit
y and abstraction. Several examples are included to explain the scheme and
its mathematical formulations. The proposed scheme can be used for science-
based studies of product design. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.