Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

EngineeringDesignandApplications

Prof.LiZhang
DepartmentofMechanical
andAutomationEngineering
TheChineseUniversityofHongKong

Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

TheSimplestDescriptiveModelofDesign
Process
Generation:thedesignergenerates orcreates
variousdesignconcepts.
Evaluation:thedesignertests thechosendesign
againstmetricsthatreflecttheclientsobjectives
andagainstrequirementsthatstipulatehowthe
designmustfunction.
Communications:thedesignercommunicates
thefinaldesigntotheclientandto
manufacturersorfabricators.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignProcess Review
Afivestageprescriptive model
ofthedesignprocessthat
showsfeedbackloops.
Clientsproblemstatement need foradesign
Problemdefinition:apreprocessingstagethatframesthe
problembyclarifyingtheclientsoriginalproblemstatement.
1stPhase(CD):Focusontradeoffsbetweenhighlevelobjectives.
2ndphase(PD):Theproposedconceptsarefleshedout.We
embodydesignschemewiththeirmostimportantattributes.
3rdphase(DD):Refinethe
choicewemadeinpreliminary
design,downtospecificpart
typesanddimensions.
DC:apostprocessingphase
thatidentifiestheworkdone
afterdetaileddesigntocollect,
organize,andpresentthefinal design.

Howtodoadesign?
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Strategies,Methods,andMeansinthe
designprocess
Evenprescriptivedescriptionsofdesign
processes canfailusbecausetheydonttell
ushowtogenerateorcreatdesign.
Whataretheformaldesignmethods and
someofthemeans ofacquiringdesign
relatedinformation

Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Strategicthinkinginthedesignprocess
Never marry your first design, premature
commitments can be dangerous because we
might become attached to a bad concept, or
we might limit ourselves to a suboptimal
range of design choices.
To apply the power of decomposition, i.e.
Subdividing or decomposing large problems
into smaller subproblems. (sometimes
identified as divide and conquer.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Explanationofmethods,andmeans
Methods,ormorespecifically,formaldesignmethods,
refertoparticulartoolsortechniquesthathavebeen
developedtoaidthedesignerincompletingvarious
aspectsoractivitiesinthedesignprocess.Forexample,
useofanobjectivestreeisaformaldesignmethodwhich
canbeusedtoorganizeandcommunicateinformation
aboutclientandusergoalsandobjectives.
Means areparticulartechniqueswhichareavailableto
accomplishaspecificpurpose.Forexample,inthis
chapter,somemeansofacquiringinformationaregiven
whichareusefulwhethertheinformationistobeusedin
anystageofdesign.Laterinthelecturewewillusethe
termmeansinaverysimilarsensetodescribehowa
functioncanberealized.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Designmethods
Webulidobjectivetrees inordertoclarify
andbetterunderstandaclientsproject
statement.
WerankdesignobjectivesusingPairwise
ComparisonCharts(PCC),inwhichwelistthe
objectivesasbothrowsandcolumnsina
matrixorchart,andthencomparethemona
pairbypairbasis.PCCareusrfulforrank
orderingobjectivesearlyinthedesign
process.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignMethods
Theprocessofestablishingmetrics forassessing
howwelladesignsobjectivesareachieved.

Objective:Beveragecontainershouldbe
environmentallydenign.
Units:Ratingassessmentofmostenvironmentally
desirablealternativesfrom0(worst)to100(best)
Metric:Assignpointsaccordingtothefollowingscale:
Completelyreusable:
100points
Materialisrecyclable:
90points
Materialiseasilydisposable:
50points
Materialisdisposablewithdifficulty:25points
0points
Materialisahazardouswaste:
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignMethods
Theprocessofestablishingmetrics forassessing
howwelladesignsobjectivesareachieved.

Objective:Beveragecontainershouldbeeasyto
distribute.
Units:Ratingofdesignteamsassessmentoftheease
ofpackingandstackingthecontainer,from0(worst)
to100(best)
Metric:Assignpointsaccordingtothefollowingscale:
Veryeasytopackandstack:
100points
Easytopackandstack:
75points
50points
Canbepackedandstacked:
Hardtopackandstack:
25points
Veryhardtopackandstack:
0points
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignMethods
Theprocessofestablishingmetrics forassessing
howwelladesignsobjectivesareachieved.

Objective:Beveragecontainershouldpreservetaste.
Units:Ratingofdesignteamsassessmentofhowgood
thenewjuicewilltasteasafunctionofthecontainer,
from0(worst)to100(best)
Metric:Assignpointsaccordingtothefollowingscale:
Wontchangethetasteatall:
100points
75points
Willchangethetastealittlebit:
Willchangethetastenoticeably:
50points
Willchangethetastealot:
25points
Willrenderthejuiceundrinkable: 0points
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Designmethods
Functionalanalysisisusedtoidentifywhata
designmustdo.(ch.4)
Onestartingpointforanalyzingthefunctionality
ofaproposeddeviceisablackbox.
Weoftenassesstheinputsandoutputs by

Trackingtheflowofenergy,informationand
materialsthroughthedevice
Detailinghowenergyisusedorconvertedand
howinformationand/ormaterialsareprocessed
toproducethedesiredfunctions.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Designmethods
Theperformancespecificationmethodprovides
supportfortheelaborationoftherequirementsthat
reflect,inengineeringterms,howadesignwill
function.Theaimistolistsolutionindependent
attributesandperformancespecificationsthat
specifytherequirementsofadesignconcept.(ch. 4)
Themorphologicalchartisusedtoidentifythe
means thatcanbeusedtomaketherequired
function(s)happen.Themeans arespecificwaysor
devicesforusing/convertingenergyandfor
processinginformation/materials.(ch.5)
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

EmbodiedIntelligenceofRobots

InRolfPfeiferslabatZurichUniversity,hedevelopsrobotsinordertounderstand
howhumanbeingsfunction,borrowingideasfromneuroscience,developmental
psychology,biomechanicsandmaterialsscience.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Chapter 4
Functions and Requirements
- Functionalanalysisisusedtoidentifywhata
designmustdo.

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Learningobjectives
Sofar,wehavefocusedondefiningtheclients
designproblem.(clientsperspective engineering
practice)
Learnhowtotranslate thedesignobjectivesinto
quantitative,engineeringterms(requirements)
Learnhowtogenerateconceptualdesigns

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

IdentifyingFunctions

Objectivesdescribewhatthedesigneddevicewillbelike,
thatis,whatthefinalobjectwillbeandwhatqualitiesit
willhave.Objectivesdetailattributesandareusually
characterizedbylinkingverbssuchasareandbe.
(expressedinthelanguageoftheclientoruser)

Functionsdescribewhattheobjectivewilldo,with
particularfocusontheinputoutputtransformation that
thedeviceorsystemwillaccomplish.Functionsareoften
expressedinthelanguageofengineersorscientists,inthe
formofverbobjectpairs.
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

IdentifyingFunctions
Thedesignobjectivescanberepresentedas
functions
Aviewoffunctionfrommathematics:transform
inputtooutput:y =f(x)
Aviewoffunctionfromengineering:tracking
transform/transferenergy,materials,and
information.

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

IdentifyingFunctions
Aviewoffunctionfromengineering(continue)
HowEnergybeconverted:
Forms:mechanical,thermal,magnetic,electrical,fluid
Energymustbeconserved
Efficiency

HowMaterialsbeprocessed
Flow
Physicalandchemicalreactions
Shapesandcharacters

HowInformationbeprocessed
Data
Knowledge

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

IdentifyingFunctions
Functionsareexpressedasverbobjectpairssuchas:
Lift apart
Mix twofluids
Measure temperature,etc.

Functionsshallnotbeaparticularsolution
Light acandle onlyflamewilldo
Ignite acandle ahightemperaturewilldo

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

IdentifyingFunctions
Functionscanbecategorized
Basicfunction:specificworkthatmustbeaccomplished
Secondaryfunction:anyotherfunctionsneededtodothe
basicfunctionorthosethatresultfromdoingthebasic
function
Anexample:overheadprojector
Basicfunction:projectimages
Secondaryfunction:convertingenergy,generatinglight,focusing
images
Unwantedsecondaryfunction:e.g.generatingheat

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis
Identifyingfunctionsusingblackbox
Trackingtheflowofenergy,materials,andinformation
Detailinghowenergyisusedorconverted,howmaterials
and/orinformationareprocessedtoproducethedesired
functions

Blackbox
Theinputs?
Theoutputs?
Makingtheblackboxtransparent

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis
Example1:powerdrill

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis
Example2:radio(blackbox)

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis

Example2:radio(continue) thetransparentbox

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis
Identifyingfunctionsbasedonreverseengineering
Whyreinventthewheel?

Importantnotes

Thegoalofanexistingdesignmaybedifferent
Thetermsofanexistingdesignmaybedifferent
Donotbecomecaptivetotheexistingdesign
Donotberestrictingbytheexistingdesign
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Functionanalysis
Example1:powerdrill
(continue)

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis:transparentbox
Example1:powerdrill(continue)

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis
Identifyingfunctionsbyenumeration
Whathappenwhenanobjectivesuddenlyvanished
Howtomaintainanobjectiveinlifetime
Anexample:beveragecontainer

Containliquid
Getliquidintothecontainer
Getliquidoutofthecontainer
Closethecontainerafterusage
Resistforcesinducedbytemperature,handlingforce,
Identifytheproducts

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

FunctionAnalysis
Identifyingfunctions
byfunctionmeans
trees
Afunctionmeans
treeisagraphical
representationofa
designsbasicand
secondaryfunctions
Anexample

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignRequirements
Designrequirementsspecifythefunctions,
behaviors,andattributesofadesign
Designrequirementsarepresentedinthreeforms:
Prescriptiverequirements:specifyvaluesforattributesof
thedesignedobject.Forexample,Asteponasafeladder
shallbemadefromGradAfir,havingathicknessofatleast
0.75inch,havealengththatdoesnotexceed80inch,
Proceduralrequirements:specifyproceduresfor
calculatingattributesorbehaviors.Forexample,the
maximumbendingstressSigma(max)inastepinasafe
laddershallbecalculatedfromMc/I,andshouldnot
exceedtheallowablestress,i.e.Sigma(allow).
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignRequirements
Performancerequirements:specifyperformancelevels
thatmustdemonstratesuccessfulfunctionalbehavior.For
example,asteponasafeladdershallsupporta100kg
humanbeing.

Note
Designrequirementsmustbespecific(Functional
requirementsdontmeanmuchifwedontconsiderhow
wellthedesignmustperformitsfunctions.
Thecorrelations amongthedesignrequirementsmustbe
considered
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignRequirements
Attachingnumberstodesignrequirements
Determinetherangeoverwhichameasureisrelevanttoa
design
Decidehowmuchimprovementisworthwhile translate
functionsintomeasurabletermsinordertobeableto
developandassessadesign.

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Designrequirements
Attachingnumberstodesignrequirements
Thehypotheticalperformanceutilityplot, withwhichthe
benefitofanincrementalormarginalgaininperformance
canbefound.

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Designrequirements
Attachingnumberstodesignrequirements
(continue)
Thelinearapproximation(straightlinedefinesarange
withinwhichweexpecttoachievedesigngainsbytuning
thevariable).

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Designrequirements
Attachingnumberstodesignrequirements(continue)
Anexample:noiselevel(decibels dB)

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignRequirements
Settingperformancelevels
Theperformancelevelshallbewithintheinteresting
regionoftheutilitycurve
Anexample:beveragecontainer
Containingliquid
Amount
Temperature

Resistforceinducedbyhandling
Amount
Direction

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

DesignRequirements
Interfaceperformancerequirements
Theinterfaceisveryimportant
Anexample:carradio
Electronicinterface
Voltage
Powerconsumption

Manmachineinterface
Volume
Tuning

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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Recap:ExpressingFunctions
Enumeration
Makingalistoffunctions.

BlackBox/TransparentBox
Indicatingsystemboundary.
Showingallinputsandoutputs.
Focusingonhowagroupofinputsaretransformed.

FunctionMeansTree
Severalmeansofaccomplishingafunctionarelisted.
Subsidiaryfunctionsthatresultfromthatarelisted
belowthemeans.

Dissection&ReverseEngineering
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Engineering Design and Applications (MAEG3920)

Questions?
Chapter 5: Generating and Evaluating Design
Alternatives
(Learning objectives)

- Learnhowtogeneratedesignalternatives
- Learnhowtoevaluatedesignalternatives

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