Constraint modelling as a means for understanding the limitations of a design and its performance

Matthews, Jason; Singh, B; Medland, Anthony J; Mullineux, Glen; Hicks, Ben

Abstract

When new design tasks are undertaken, knowledge of the design area is often ill-understood and the appropriate design rules are unclear. What are more apparent are the constraints which place limits upon the allowable forms of feasible design. This paper looks at a design technique based upon identifying and modelling the underlying constraint within mechanical systems. A design modelling environment is described and it is shown how this has been applied to a range of design tasks The types of underlying constraints are discussed together with the ways in which these can be formulated and resolved in the constraint modelling framework. This leads on to a discussion of a constraint-based procedure for identifying and understanding the performance limits of existing and new machine designs. The approach is illustrated by a number of case study examples taken from the design of packaging and food processing machines. The typical constraints underlying such examples are discussed as well as the performance measures used to improve performance.

• Conference Name: 6th International Conference on Integrated Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering (IDMME’06),
• Start Date: May 17, 2006
• End Date: May 19, 2006
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2006
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Book Title: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Integrated Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering, IDMME 2006
• ISBN: 9782952397919
• Keywords: constraints, design knowledge, design optimisation, performance limits
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1044618
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Integrated Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering (IDMME’06),