An interdisciplinary framework for the design and life prediction of engineering systems

This paper is constructed on the assumption that innovation in systems of t he future would depend on how the synergies among various disciplines can b e exploited and implemented in design strategies. A framework that can serv e this purpose is presented; it is based on the concept that an "end-user" system can be partitioned into subsystems and linking variables. The subsys tems generally life along traditional disciplines, e.g., materials science, mechanical engineering, manufacturing etc. The linking variable serve as t he vehicle for multidimensional coupling among the subsystems. System level design and life prediction is carried out in the linking variable space (L VS). The potential for this frame-work is illustrated by applying it to the design and life prediction of the light bulb. This example serves to illus trate how the design regime is created in LVS by overlaying the results fro m engineering design and materials science subsystems. The linking variable s also define the pathway for assessing the influence of the critical param eters residing within each subsystem, on the overall variability in the lif e of the light bulb. In this way it becomes possible to understand how much the uncertainties from each of subfields contribute to the overall uncerta inty of the system. [S0094-4289(00)01803-X].