A conceptual design model using Axiomatic Design and TRIZ

Abstract

To adapt to the increasingly rapid development in product design, a new computer-aided conceptual design model is highly desired. This paper proposes a novel conceptual design model that combines Axiomatic Design with Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). It first employs Axiomatic Design to build the functional-structure model of products. It then calls Independence Axiom to judge the rationality of the design. If the design is coupled or violates certain design constraint(s), then unexpected problem(s) may arise in the design. In this case, for reducing the complexity of design, this paper proposes to use analytic hierarchy process to calculate the coupling strengths. The designer can deal with the coupling elements according to the sequence of coupling strengths. For those strongly coupled elements, the model applies TRIZ in addressing these arising problems. The effectiveness of this model is demonstrated by an illustrative example.