Function Behavior Structure Research Articles

Conceptual design using functional 3D models in augmented reality

Conceptual design defines the basic form and function of a product. In this paper, the use of functional 3D models (F3DM) for conceptual design is presented. The designer performs conceptual design by first defining how the product can be used in the form of a Product Use Model, followed by creating basic 3D models using his/her bare hands in an Augmented Reality CAD Environment (ARCADE). A multilevel function–behavior–structure modeling framework is developed for design reasoning and evaluation to ensure that the design is functionally and geometrically consistent. The functional behavior of a product can be simulated as a prototype in ARCADE to demonstrate the use of the product and detect potential usability issues. Two case studies of the design of a table-top cleaner and a fruit processor are conducted to demonstrate the application of F3DM in conceptual design.

Product Design Ontology System Based on FBS-API

Designontology plays an important role in modern multi-party collaborations andknowledge-intensive designs. In this paper, a product design ontology system isproposed by analyzing and deconstructing the design function–behavior–structure(FBS) model and geometry application programming interfaces (APIs). GeometryAPIs and surface behavior are considered minimum structure units and concretefunction realization, respectively. APIs and their surface behavior are definedto build the semantic connection among functions, behavior, and structures andrefine further the ontology of FBS design. According to some inference rules, designontology can be used to obtain automatically or semi-automatically thepreliminary product function and structure. The studied cases prove that therepresentation of the design knowledge based on the FBS-API ontology overcomesthe limit of mere word conventions and is more conducive to the quantizationand derivation of product design.

How the Next Generation of Products Pushes to Rethink the Role of Users and Designers

An emerging category of products, such as gadgets and smart devices, provides the user with high levels of customization but imposes to revise the roles of both users and designers. The Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) framework has been proved to describe both designers perspective and customers use in a proper way. The paradigm has to be adapted when the high level of product customization enables all the users to reinvent the product itself. Researchers, amateurs, makers are now capable to fully interact with the electronic, the control software and even the shape of finished products. Main enablers of such change are several emerging technological solutions, both hardware (such as low cost 3D printers, programmable electronic boards, low cost sensors and actuators) and software (such as user-manufacturing web platforms). A design language that encompasses this new way of doing design becomes a priority. The paper investigates the role of FBS model as a practical response to this topic and presents a user-manufacturing web platform based on this theoretical framework. The design and development of a new smart object, performed through the introduced platform, is presented in order to support the description.

Design cognition differences when using unstructured, partially structured, and structured concept generation creativity techniques

This paper presents an experimental study of measuring and comparing design cognition while using different concept generation creativity techniques in a collaborative engineering design setting. Eleven design teams were given the same three design tasks, respectively, using an unstructured concept generation technique (brainstorming), a partially structured technique (morphological analysis), and a structured technique (TRIZ). A protocol analysis was carried out using the function–behavior–structure ontologically based coding scheme. This study showed that the students' design cognition was affected by the degree of structuredness of the concept generation creativity techniques they applied in their designing. The more structured a concept generation creativity technique is, the more likely that designers using this technique tend to focus more on problem-related aspects of designing, i.e., design goals and requirements. Results also indicate that the influence of the structuredness of concept generation creativity techniques mainly affects the early parts of the designing process, and differences between different design conditions exhibit an overall commonality of designing.

Situating needs and requirements in the FBS framework

The paper proposes an extension of Gero's Function–Behaviour–Structure (FBS) framework aimed at representing Needs and Requirements and their relationships with the Function, the Behaviour and the Structure of an artefact. Needs and Requirements are modelled as further types of variables to describe, with the same formal approach of the situated FBS model, the transformation processes, which occur in the earlier stages of design. The proposed model is clarified through an application to the information gathered within an industrial project to reduce water and energy consumption of a washing machine. By situating Needs and Requirements into the FBS framework, it is possible to properly represent all the tasks and the related cognitive processes characterising the earliest stages of the new product development.

B-Cube, behavioural modelling of technical artefacts

A new model, B-Cube, is described for managing knowledge at the behaviour level of the function–behaviour–structure framework. The model proposes a three-dimensional approach to the behavioural modelling of technical artefacts using definitions based mainly on the meta-ontology DOLCE as concepts of behaviour.The present work aims to show how these terms and those from the NIST functional basis can complement each other in functional design. It is assumed that this model achieves similar objectives with behaviours to those obtained by the NIST functional basis with functions, i.e. the representation of behaviours in CAD and KBS, a scheme for the modelling of behaviours and a universal set of behaviours. The modelling language IDEF was adapted to be able to produce a graphic example of the modelling of technical artefacts in the FBS framework using B-Cube terminology at the behaviour level.

A Multidomain Engineering Change Propagation Model to Support Uncertainty Reduction and Risk Management in Design

Engineering change (EC) is a source of uncertainty. While the number of changes to a design can be optimized, their existence cannot be eliminated. Each change is accompanied by intended and unintended impacts both of which might propagate and cause further knock-on changes. Such change propagation causes uncertainty in design time, cost, and quality and thus needs to be predicted and controlled. Current engineering change propagation models map the product connectivity into a single-domain network and model change propagation as spread within this network. Those models miss out most dependencies from other domains and suffer from “hidden dependencies”. This paper proposes the function-behavior-structure (FBS) linkage model, a multidomain model which combines concepts of both the function-behavior-structure model from Gero and colleagues with the change prediction method (CPM) from Clarkson and colleagues. The FBS linkage model is represented in a network and a corresponding multidomain matrix of structural, behavioral, and functional elements and their links. Change propagation is described as spread in that network using principles of graph theory. The model is applied to a diesel engine. The results show that the FBS linkage model is promising and improves current methods in several ways: The model (1) accounts explicitly for all possible dependencies between product elements, (2) allows capturing and modeling of all relevant change requests, (3) improves the understanding of why and how changes propagate, (4) is scalable to different levels of decomposition, and (5) is flexible to present the results on different levels of abstraction. All these features of the FBS linkage model can help control and counteract change propagation and reduce uncertainty and risk in design.

Guiding conceptual design through functional space exploration

Conceptual design is an early stage in the product design process, which has an essential effect on the product innovation. Existing approaches for conceptual design always focus on the mapping processes, such as function–behavior–structure, function–behavior–state, or function–effect–solution, etc. The function, effect, solution, behavior, structure, and state all have influential factors in the above mapping processes. The enlargement of functional space, effect space, solution space, behavior space, structure space, state space, and problem-solving space can bring more opportunities to product innovation. This paper is devoted to functional space exploration in conceptual design. Each function has its own hierarchies and configurations, as well as each effect has its own multivariate influential factors, both of which can provide tremendous and exploitable space of creative concepts. The problem-solving space will be enlarged through the functional space exploration, which can obviously bring more opportunities for product innovation. This paper is devoted to presenting a systematic approach based on the reasoning of functional space exploration to increase opportunities for product innovation in conceptual design. A process of functional space exploration is treated as a three-step process, first transforming original function to derivative functions, then mapping these derivative functions to effects, and finally exploiting these effects to quantitative or qualitative physical quantity space. The functional design of new devices for decreasing resistance of amphibious vehicles is given as an example, which demonstrates that the methodology is obviously helpful to increase opportunities for product innovation in conceptual design.

Computational Synthesis of Product Architectures Based on Object-Oriented Graph Grammars

Computational design synthesis aims to iteratively and automatically generate solution spaces of standard and novel design alternatives to support the innovation process. New approaches are required to generate alternative solutions at the function and behavior level as well as to ease the computational modeling of design knowledge. This paper introduces the approach of object-oriented graph grammars for the computational synthesis of product models based on a Function–Behavior–Structure (FBS) representation. The approach combines the advantages of a generic and systematic design method with a highly computable graph representation and object-oriented concepts. Through this combination, advances in terms of extendibility, efficiency, and flexible formalization of declarative and procedural engineering knowledge are achieved. Validation of the method is given through the synthesis of hybrid powertrains. The generation of hybrid powertrain solution spaces is shown, especially focusing on the impact of an evolving vocabulary, or building blocks, for synthesis. Future work includes integrating search methods in the synthesis process along with quantitative evaluation using simulation methods.

CORM: A reference model for future computer networks

This paper acknowledges the need for revolutionary designs to devise the Future Internet by presenting a clean-slate Concern-Oriented Reference Model (CORM) for architecting future networks. CORM is derived in accordance to the Function–Behavior–Structure engineering framework, conceiving computer networks as a distributed software-dependent complex system. CORM networks are designed along two main dimensions: a vertical dimension addressing structure and configuration of network building blocks; and a horizontal dimension addressing communication and interaction among the previously formulated building blocks. For each network dimension, CORM factors the design space into function, structure, and behavior, applying to each the principle of separation of concerns for further systematic decomposition. Perceiving the network as a complex system, CORM constructs the network recursively in a bottom–up approach starting by the network building block, whose structure and behavior are inspired by an evolutionary bacterium cell. Hence, CORM is bio-inspired, it refutes the long-endorsed concept of layering, it accounts intrinsically for emergent behavior fostering network integrity and stability. We conjecture that networks designed according to CORM-based architectures can adapt and further evolve to better fit their contexts. To justify our conjecture, we derive and simulate a CORM-based architecture for ad hoc networks.

TRIZ based interface conflict resolving strategies for modular product architectures

In product development, the chosen product architecture often possesses characteristics of both modular and integral design. Within a modular architecture, a Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) model has been applied to describe modules and their interfaces. To resolve emerging interface conflicts, several strategies based on both modular and integral action have been formulated. The strategies encompass TRIZ methods, as they focus strongly on product innovation. The purpose of the presented study is to combine TRIZ techniques and FBS modeling while trying to solve interface conflicts at a low level of abstraction. The interface conflict resolving strategies have been applied on an industrial case study successfully.

Port-based ontology modeling to support product conceptualization

In today's rapidly changing marketplace, product demand is one of the most powerful driving forces behind design, thus rendering product conceptualization full of challenges. As a port can be defined as the point of action between a component and its environment, it plays a crucial role in capturing component concepts and realizing conceptual design. This paper presents a convenient approach to representation of the intended exchange of signals, energy, and/or materials and the generation and management of port-based knowledge (PBK). A port-based ontology modeling (PBOM) process that supports product conceptualization is described. A port definition and port functional representation are provided first with their semantic synthesis then employed to describe a port ontology. Second, details of the construction of a port-based ontology (PBO) repository that contains the assorted primitive functions, similarity calculations, and primitive concepts needed to map component connections and interactions are provided. The hierarchical attributes and taxonomy of ports are established, and the compatibility rules are then used to determine the connectability of two components. Next, the PBOM process is presented and a port-based, multi-view model is articulated, with the definition of each view and the projected relationships among the views given. Furthermore, a port-based ontology language (PBOL) that represents the process of port ontology refinement is presented, and a port-based function–behavior–structure (FBS) modeling framework is constructed for primitive system configuration. Finally, the results of a correction tape dispenser case study carried out to validate the efficiency of the port ontology for product conceptualization are presented.

A multi-relational and interactive model for supporting the design process in the conceptual phase

The article presents an interactive model that increases the possibilities of exploration during the design process, increasing the number of ways to guide and build the design alternatives. The model considers a knowledge representation, based on the function–behaviour–structure framework that increases the number of relations between the representation levels. With this model, the designer can explore and converge the design space by means of rules that connect the abstraction levels. The model begins the synthesis from any level of abstraction; it explores the knowledge by means of pop-up menus, which can be freely selected by the user and makes it possible to go back to higher levels of abstraction during the synthesis. The paper starts with a brief survey of some of the most significant functional synthesis models and the knowledge schemes used, and then it describes the proposed model and its application to a design case.

Comparing collaborative co-located and distributed design processes in digital and traditional sketching environments: A protocol study using the function–behaviour–structure coding scheme

This study compares the design processes of designers in both digital and traditional sketching environments, where the digital environment emulates the traditional face-to-face, pen-and-paper environment. The design processes were empirically examined through protocol analysis using a coding scheme based on the function–behaviour–structure ontology. The distributions of the different types of segments, and their transitions in the two environments were quantitatively compared using Chi-Square tests and Paired-T tests. The results indicate that the design processes in the two environments were not statistically different in terms of their distributions and transitions. The higher-level cognitive activities were not affected by the change of medium. Some implications for design computing and design practice are discussed.

Implementation and Quotient Representation of Creativity in Functional Layer and Form Layer of the Function-behavior-structure Model

Presenting a method to support the re-creative design of patented products is important for enhancing the ability for enterprises to develop innovative products rapidly. Considering the multiple functions for each basic structure to have and expressing each function in function-behavior-structure (FBS) model with basic operating actions, the creativity enhanced FBS function decomposition and structure matching model is set up with the aid of the quotient space theory. The sequence-keep partition and hierarchical partition have made the behavior creativity to realize in the behavior layer, the form layer partition based on the equivalence relation has made the structure creativity to produce in the form layer. The case study based on creativity enhanced FBS model shows that the general function of the patented products can be realized by simpler and fewer basic structures. It means that the model can efficiently support the re-creative design of patented products.

RFBS: A model for knowledge representation of conceptual design

Conceptual design has been broken down into sub-processes and elementary tasks in methodologies. These methodologies proposed suggest their systematic application. This paper assumes the possible execution of these tasks automatically. Nevertheless, it is necessary for computers to integrate the knowledge required during the conceptual design process. Knowledge models have been proposed, for instance Gero's Function–Behaviour–Structure (FBS) model for design. This paper presents the integration of methodologies with a model of knowledge for conceptual design in accordance with model-driven engineering. Our proposition extends the FBS model and presents its practical implementation through ontology and language such as SysML.

The process model to aid innovation of products conceptual design

Currently, designers often pay little attention to integrated innovation during the design process of products. In addition, the product assistance design systems mainly focus on the detailed design phrase and the construction function of mathematics models are often been neglected. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes a conceptual design process model to aid multi-stage innovation of product design based on the integration of the essential rules of the Axiomatic Design (AD) model, Function–Behaviour–Structure (FBS) model, and the guideline of functional creative thinking logics. By utilising the function tree and functional structure tree as the mediums to express the design information and by applying the conflict solving strategies of Extensic theory, the conceptual design process is defined as an integrated system with five stages and four mappings. The integrated logical processes of this model are described with mathematical language. Thus, the whole transformation from design experiences to design principles and to mathematical model finally to aided design system is realized perfectly in the proposed process model. The meaningful exploration on the nature and practical processes of product conceptual design is carried out in this research.

The ontology of Gero's FBS model of designing

Recent work by Vermaas and Dorst has led to constructive criticism and conceptual clarification of Gero's FBS (Function-Behaviour-Structure) model of designing. In this paper Vermaas' and Dorst's version of the model is scrutinized, with an emphasis on its temporal aspect and ontological implications. Regarding the latter, the model is found to be in need of amendment and further refinement to ensure its clarity and logical coherence. To this end, two alternative modifications of the model are developed. These results are not claimed to be of immediate practical use to designers. Rather, they are intended to contribute to a reliable conceptual foundation for research and tool development that may aim more directly at supporting design practice.

An ontologically-based evaluation of software design methods

AbstractThis paper develops an ontological basis for evaluating software design methods, based on the situated function–behaviour–structure framework. This framework accounts for the situatedness of designing, viewing it as a dynamic activity driven by interactions between designers and the artefacts being designed. On the basis of this framework, we derive a general evaluation schema that we apply to five software design methods. The ideas presented in this work contribute to a better understanding of design methods, and uncover opportunities for method integration and development.

Structure, behavior, and function of complex systems: The structure, behavior, and function modeling language

AbstractTeleological modeling is fundamental to understanding and explaining many complex systems, especially engineered systems. Research on engineering design and problem solving has developed several ontologies for expressing teleology, for example, functional representation, function–behavior–structure, and structure–behavior–function (SBF). In this paper, we view SBF as a programming language. SBF models of engineering systems have been used in several computer programs for automated design and problem solving. The SBF language captures the expressive power of the earlier programs and provides a basis for interactive construction of SBF models. We provide a precise specification of the SBF language. We also describe an interactive model construction tool called SBFAuthor.