Design Tool Research Articles

An Integrated Building Information Modeling and Life-Cycle Assessment Approach to Facilitate Design Decisions on Sustainable Building Projects in Canada

In the context of the digital and sustainable transformation of building projects, the integrated approach of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) has been widely studied. Recent advancements in such integrated modeling processes and techniques have not yet provided reliable and robust decision-making capabilities for designers to intuitively choose between material alternatives. This study develops a new design framework that integrates BIM, LCA, and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) algorithms to facilitate sustainable design processes in building projects. A case study using a single-family housing project in the British Columbia province of Canada was implemented to test the designs to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed integrated framework, including a three-way comparison of design scenarios—conventional hot-roll steel, recycled steel, and timber. The results indicate a significant performance improvement with the adoption of recycled structural steel materials, surpassing conventional steel designs and demonstrating a similar performance to that of timber designs. The study underscores the importance of informed decision-making in material selection, driven by the quantitative analysis of digital designs and multi-criteria evaluation (e.g., social carbon cost). This integrated framework offers a valuable tool for designers, engineers, and builders to achieve sustainability when designing building projects through the systematic and rapid comparison of environmental performance.

Methodic of design of technological complexes. Design of tools for high-speed machining

Within the framework of the developed methodic for designing of non-stationary technological complexes, a further decomposition of the tool development block is carried out with the workup of its structural design for the slipway processing of grooves for welding in the hull structures of underwater shipbuilding products. Keywords:non-stationary technological complexes, groove for welding, mathematical model, design methodology, components of cutting forces, tool diagram s.rusanovskiy@narfu.ru, m.khudyakov@narfu.ru

Financing and management models as a design tool for circular housing projects

Financing and management models as a design tool for circular housing projects

Design of energy, cost-efficient binary to gray code converter with temperature and stability analysis

The Quantum Dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is an emerging quantum electronics technology in which quantum cells are the fundamental building blocks. In this work, a Binary to Gray (BTG) code converter design is proposed and implemented using the QCA Designer Tool. This code converter design requires fewer cells than earlier designs and also increases the converter’s implementation bit size to five. The primary objective of this proposal is to introduce a BTG code converter design that excels in temperature stability and energy efficiency. The cell count in the proposed converter design for two-bit, three-bit, and four-bit is decreased by 68.55 %, 66.52 %, and 67.77 %, respectively and the overall area improved by 46.15 %, 52.17 %, and 57.58 % for 2- bit,3-bit and 4-bit, respectively by considering a latency of 0.75. The five-bit BTG has an area of 0.20 µm2 with a cell count of 141 and a latency of 0.75. To validate the functionality of the proposed design, extensive simulations were carried out using the QCA Designer tool, QCA DesignerE tool, and QCA Pro tool respectively.

Topology Optimization of Structural Drive-Train Component of an Electric Driven Vehicle for Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is an emerging technology and an important alternative to conventional manufacturing methods as it enables the production of lighter parts that are potentially more durable. In this context, the design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) has been drawing a considerable amount of attention mainly in the aerospace, and automotive industries as well as in academia. On the other hand, the ability of additive manufacturing to manufacture complex topology is often the outcome of topology optimization, which makes topology optimization a good design tool for additive manufacturing. The main objective of the present work is to redesign a structural component of the drivetrain of the Shell Eco-Marathon vehicle, with the use of Altair Inspire™, an industrial generative design tool, by application of Topology Optimization for Additive Manufacturing aiming mass reduction and does not cover the print process.

APLIKASI ALAT BANTU ERGONOMIS PADA KERJA MANUAL BERDASARKAN KAJIAN ERGO-MECHANICAL UNTUK PETANI KECIL

Using traditional tools and manual work by small farmers in rural and developing areas is routine in processing agricultural land, especially planting plant seeds. This working model includes moderate to severe workload due to additional workload, namely sunlight when planting. In addition, work is carried out with non-ergonomic work postures, namely non-natural work postures. This causes musculoskeletal complaints to workers due to the non-harmonious tools with workers. Workers' productivity will decrease and have the potential to reduce the quality of life of small farmers themselves. To help the manual work of small farmers to create effective, comfortable, safe, healthy, efficient, and sustainable jobs, an ergo-mechanical application is needed to design work tools. This application is based on studies conducted on the design of work tools from several libraries or research results. The ergo-mechanical study is an integrated system that applies ergonomic and mechanical principles. The ergo-mechanical application produces ergonomic work tools that are comfortable to use by workers, and technical standards include material, product, and service requirements. Mechanically, the application through technical drawings, mechanical planning, and work tool materials to get a strong, lightweight, and safe work tool from hazardous substances, according to technical specifications. Technical standards are related to data sheets or specifications that describe the technical characteristics of a work tool. On the specifications of the work tool design, specifications can be added that the work tools are ergonomic. Ergonomic work tools can produce effective, comfortable, safe, healthy, and efficient work. This results from the compatibility between work tools and workers or the harmonious work tools with workers. Ergo-mechanical creates comfort in work that affects the increase in productivity and quality of life for workers.

Implementing Failure Mode & Effect Analysis(FMEA) on Framework Structure

Abstract: The Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is one of the most practical design tools implemented in the product design to analyze the possible failures and to improve the design. The use of FMEA is diversified, and different approaches are proposed by various organizations and researchers from one application to another. The question is how to use the features of FMEA along with the design process. This research focuses on different types of FMEA in the design process, which is considered as the mapping between customer requirements, design components, and product functions. These three elements of design are the foundation of the integration model proposed in this research. The objective of this research is to understand an integrated approach of FMEA in the design process. Significantly, an integration framework is developed to integrate the design process and FMEA. Then, a step-by-step FMEA-facilitated design process is proposed to apply FMEA along with the design process. The analysis should always be started by someone listing the functions that the design needs to fulfil. Functions are the starting point of a well done FMEA, and using functions as baseline provides the best yield of an FMEA. After all, a design is only one possible solution to perform functions that need to be fulfilled. This way an FMEA can be done on concept designs as well as detail designs, on hardware as well as software, and no matter how complex the design.

Effective schematic design phase in design process

AbstractDesign thinking is a way to create solid designs that responds to design problems and solve it in a creative and suitable way. However, it is not widely recognized in architectural education pedagogy in Egypt for undergraduate. Despite being very efficient in several business avenues but not in architectural pedagogy. So, this paper aims to spot the light on design thinking and the possibility of its usage in design process to help students have a successful architectural project that solves the design problems and face the site challenges through the use of visualization design thinking tool. Where students face a challenge in translating the verbal language of their collected data in the research phase to the architectural language in the schematic phase. There is a recognized gap between the research students perform in the beginning of design project and the schematic designs that students deliver. The study proposes the possibility of using visualization as a tool for design thinking to have a sufficient and successful schematic design phase. The study will explain how students could apply design thinking in architectural design to benefit from their research phase in their schematic design. Moreover, come up with solutions and variable ideas using the tools of deign thinking as a way for helping in delivering design problem solution and have a more effective schematic design. At the end of the research paper the study concludes how the students can use visualization tool to translate the verbal language to architectural language and the possibility for using design thinking. That to help students realize the importance of analysis phase in synthesis. The research follows descriptive method and quantitative analysis where first the descriptive method is used in illustrating design process and design thinking. Then the quantitative analysis in the experiment is done followed by a survey to prove research problem and help in proposing the solution.

Channel Operating Margin Exploration as a Complementary Transceiver Circuit Design Tool for 25 Gbps PAM4 Serial Links

The design of high-speed serial links continues to attract the attention of the electronics industry due to the steady development of different telecommunications standards, generating a constantly growing data rate and new modulation schemes. However, conventional certification metrics can lead to sub-optimal transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) circuit designs. Therefore, the Ethernet standard IEEE 802.3bj introduced a more effective evaluation method called channel operating margin (COM) to explore the design space at an early stage. Although the advantages of COM have been discussed in the literature and only a few works explore its potential as a backplane design tool, there are no reports on the use of COM as a complementary design tool for transceiver circuits. This work studies the use of COM as a complementary tool for transceiver design. COM performance is evaluated for four 100GBASE-KP4 backplanes and different equalization architectures. The impact of the metric and the challenges associated with incorporating new equalization structures into the COM flow are discussed. The results reveal a conventional Tx-Rx architecture that exceeds the COM threshold and an alternative one that improves the opening of the eye diagram but does not exceed the threshold.

Critical role of transport phenomena in the performance of a catalytic fixed bed reactor for the CO2 hydrogenation to CH4 evaluated by modeling and simulation

CO2 hydrogenation with renewable hydrogen enables the production of CH4 to be used as energy carrier (CO2 + 4H2 ⇆ CH4 + 2H2O). Steady state 1D pseudo-homogeneous and heterogeneous models, in the absence or presence of mass and energy transport in the axial direction of the reactor and inside the solid phase, are considered to simulate a non-isothermal fix bed reactor. Numerical strategies for solving these models in Matlab R2022b are discussed. The pseudo-homogeneous plug-flow model is not able to describe the experimental results irrespective of the global heat transfer coefficient considered. The inclusion of mass and energy transport in the reactor axial direction is crucial for describing the experimental data. The inclusion of mass and heat transport inside the solid phase by the heterogeneous model enables the best fitting. This work provides a valuable modeling tool for future industrial-scale reactor design.

Structure and Activity of Reconstructed Pseudo-Ancestral Cyclotides.

Cyclotides are cyclic peptides that are promising scaffolds for the design of drug candidates and chemical tools. However, despite there being hundreds of reported cyclotides, drug design studies have commonly focussed on a select few prototypic examples. Here, we explored whether ancestral sequence reconstruction could be used to generate new cyclotides for further optimization. We show that the reconstructed 'pseudo-ancestral' sequences, named Ancy-m (for the ancestral cyclotide of the Möbius sub-family) and Ancy-b (for the bracelet sub-family), have well-defined structures like their extant members, comprising the core structural feature of a cyclic cystine knot. This motif underpins efforts to re-engineer cyclotides for agrochemical and therapeutic applications. We further show that the reconstructed sequences are resistant to temperatures approaching boiling, bind to phosphatidyl-ethanolamine lipid bilayers at micromolar affinity, and inhibit the growth of insect cells at inhibitory concentrations in the micromolar range. Interestingly, the Ancy-b cyclotide had a higher oxidative folding yield than its comparator cyclotide cyO2, which belongs to the bracelet cyclotide subfamily known to be notoriously difficult to fold. Overall, this study provides new cyclotide sequences not yet found naturally that could be valuable starting points for the understanding of cyclotide evolution and for further optimization as drug leads.

Innovations in architectural and environmental design: From methodologies to technology and cultural sensitivity

This comprehensive paper delves into the multifaceted world of contemporary architectural and environmental design, exploring an array of methodologies that emphasize sustainability, technological innovation, and socio-cultural integration. It begins by discussing the Integrated Design Process (IDP), which fosters early-stage collaboration across various disciplines, illustrated by the example of Seattles Bullitt Center. The paper then explores the principles of Biophilic Design, highlighting its positive impacts on human health and well-being, as seen in Singapores Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. The concept of Adaptive Reuse is explored next, emphasizing its role in sustainable urban development, with the Tate Modern in London serving as a case study. Further, the paper examines Green Building Technologies, Digital Design and Simulation Tools like BIM, and Smart Building Systems, showcasing their contributions to sustainable and efficient building management. The final sections discuss the importance of Community Engagement, Cultural Sensitivity in Design, and Inclusive Design, stressing the need for architecture that resonates with community values and is accessible to all. Through these discussions, the paper provides an insightful look into the current trends and future directions in architecture and environmental design, advocating for a holistic approach that balances functionality, sustainability, and cultural relevance.

Dynamic modeling and vibration suppression evaluation of composite honeycomb hemispherical shell with functional gradient protective coating

The vibration reduction performance of composite honeycomb hemispherical shells (CHHSs) coated with functional gradient protection coating (FGPC) are investigated in this work. Using the first-order shear deformation theory and the power-law distribution rule, the virtual spring technique, the regional decomposition method, and the Newmark-Beta approach, etc., a dynamic model of the FGPCCHHSs under base excitation is formulated to solve the inherent characteristics and displacement responses in time and frequency domains. After a set of convergence analyses are completed to ascertain an appropriate segment number and the stiffness values of virtual springs employed in the predictive model, the forecasted vibration parameters are verified using the literature and experimental results that are performed on uncoated and coated shells. The maximal natural frequency errors of the current model compared to the experimental results are 3.8% and 4.8%, and the displacement response errors under different excitation amplitudes are less than 10.3% and 12.7%, respectively, which demonstrate the correctness of such a model. Finally, the impact of key structural and material parameters on the vibration behaviors of the FPGCCHHSs is evaluated. To improve their vibration suppression capability, it is recommended to choose a high gradient index of coating material and a large thickness ratio of the FGPC to the overall shell with a reasonable moduli ratio of Material A to Material B of the FGPC to improve vibration reduction capability. This study offers a practical model tool and several important design recommendations for vibration prediction and dynamic attenuation of honeycomb sandwich hemispherical shell structures in aerospace engineering.

Luigi Moretti’s Formalised Methods and his Use of Mathematics in the Design Process of Architettura Parametrica’s Swimming Stadiums

AbstractThe use of mathematical structures as a design tool by Luigi Moretti, the first theorist of Architettura Parametrica, is an unexplored theme even though he repeatedly stressed their importance in his writings. Moretti proposed that bringing design thinking closer to mathematical formalisations could profoundly renew the discipline of architecture. However, he also warns that these formalisations may overwhelm architecture’s values to which a numerical dimension cannot be associated. The reconstruction and discussion of the mathematics behind his swimming stadiums featured in the 1960 Architettura Parametrica exhibition permits us to understand how Moretti intended a design process informed by formalised methods. This paper proposes a novel reading, based on unpublished archival sources and presented with both theoretical and practical approaches, of one the first applications that interweaves formal methods, mathematics, digital tools and scientific thought in architecture.

Nonlinear inelastic behaviors of concrete-filled steel tubular beam-column structures

A new advanced method combining stability function and distributed plasticity model has been developed using Fortran programming language to predict the nonlinear inelastic behavior of concrete-filled steel tubalar (CFST) under static loading. The advantage of this method is the ability to accurately study the nonlinear behavior using only one or two beam-column elements per member instead of using solid and shell elements as traditional methods, thereby improving the model analysis time. The Generalized Displacement Control (GDC) algorithm, capable of analyzing beyond the limit point, will be used to solve the nonlinear equilibrium equations instead of the traditional Newton-Raphson algorithm. The element stiffness matrix is integrated through the Gauss-Lobatto numerical integration framework, while the nonlinear geometric effects P-Δ and P-δ are considered using stability functions and a corresponding geometric matrix. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed method are verified by comparing the analysis results with experimental data. The obtained results have demonstrated that using beam-column elements for simulation, the proposed method still provides accurate results while significantly reducing computational resources. Therefore, this new method holds promise as a useful tool for practical design and analysis of statically loaded CFST structures.

Benchmarking Android Malware Analysis Tools

Today, malware is arguably one of the biggest challenges organisations face from a cybersecurity standpoint, regardless of the types of devices used in the organisation. One of the most malware-attacked mobile operating systems today is Android. In response to this threat, this paper presents research on the functionalities and performance of different malicious Android application package analysis tools, including one that uses machine learning techniques. In addition, it investigates how these tools streamline the detection, classification, and analysis of malicious Android Application Packages (APKs) for Android operating system devices. As a result of the research included in this article, it can be highlighted that the AndroPytool, a tool that uses machine learning (ML) techniques, obtained the best results with an accuracy of 0.986, so it can be affirmed that the tools that use artificial intelligence techniques used in this study are more efficient in terms of detection capacity. On the other hand, of the online tools analysed, Virustotal and Pithus obtained the best results. Based on the above, new approaches can be suggested in the specification, design, and development of new tools that help to analyse, from a cybersecurity point of view, the code of applications developed for this environment.

Ad Hoc Tools for Urban Renewal: The San Borja Remodeling in Santiago, Chile, 1967-1976

Conceived, developed, and built in Santiago de Chile between 1967 and 1976, the San Borja Remodeling project was the flagship of the first years of the Urban Improvement Corporation (Corporación de Mejoramiento Urbano, CORMU), a State agency created in 1966 that would become an active actor in the renovation of Chilean cities. Despite the project's significance, not only in terms of its scale and location in the centre of the Chilean capital city but also for having pushed the capacities of both the State and private companies, previous research has not addressed the full variety of tools brought together to carry out a project of this magnitude and ambition. This article describes the complexities of the San Borja project in its development. It argues that the ambition to renovate a central area in the capital city led its designers to shape and rely on ad hoc design and legal tools to make it possible. Rather than imposing a totalizing design for the city, there was a pragmatic approach aimed at developing an incremental urban renewal plan led by the State, far from both centralized planning and neoliberal urbanism.

Sustainable Service Design meta-scenario for take-it-back services on white-good appliances

Changing consumer behavior regarding the proper disposal of household appliances by designing a meta-scenario proposition for a take-it-back service, that generates value in the interaction between consumers, manufacturers and different stakeholders of electrical and electronic equipment companies, is the initial challenge of this article. It reveals an investigation into this current problem, and details the development process of the service by using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors integrated into a collaborative digital platform designed for Electrolux Brasil. The research and development of the proposal focused on promoting transparency for consumers throughout the service and seeks to meet the three sustainability dimensions. The methodology adopted for the research uses a systematic literature review combined with a range of service design tools. It begins with the comprehensive elucidation of reverse logistics and its combination with emerging technologies. Service Design tools such as Focus Group, Card Sorting, Tomorrow’s Headlines, and Storyboard were carefully exploited, serving the dual purpose of deepening the dilemma and fostering the ideation process. The implications of emerging technologies as an axis of the proposed meta-scenario are consistent with the transformation of consumer behavior; it enhances consumer decision-making by emphasizing its role as a catalyst towards sustainability.

In-silico analysis of ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are highly active N-glycosidases that depurinate both bacterial and eukaryotic rRNAs, halting protein synthesis during translation. Found in a diverse spectrum of plant species and tissues, RIPs possess antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and insecticidal properties linked to plant defense. In this study, we investigated the physiochemical properties of RIP peptides from the Cucurbitaceae family through bioinformatics approaches. Molecular weight, isoelectric point, aliphatic index, extinction coefficient, and secondary structures were analyzed, revealing their hydrophobic nature. The novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive examination of RIPs from the Cucurbitaceae family and their potential therapeutic applications. The study also elucidated the binding interactions of Cucurbitaceae RIPs with key biological targets, including Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Strong hydrogen bond interactions between RIPs and these targets suggest potential for innovative insilico drug design and therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment. Comprehensive analysis of bond lengths using Ligpolt + software provides insights for optimizing molecular interactions, offering a valuable tool for drug design and structural biology studies.

Innovative tool designs to improve formability in case of single point incremental forming

Single point incremental forming (SPIF) is one of the dieless sheet metal forming processes that offer flexibility in the customized fabrication of required parts. Improvement in formability in the case of SPIF has been one of the burning issues in the metal-forming fraternity in the past decades. In the present study, different tool tip geometries, namely hemispherical, elliptical, en-grooved, and triangular tool tips, were employed in the SPIF of 0.8 mm thick CRCA (cold rolled close annealed) steel, and the influence on the forming height was assessed in reference to the commonly used hemispherical tool tip. It was observed that tool geometry has a significant influence on forming height obtained with SPIF, and a maximum of 27% increase in forming height was observed with the en-grooved tool tip with a considerable reduction in the forming force required.