NUCLEUS-BASED PRODUCT CONCEPTUALIZATION - PRINCIPLES AND FORMALIZATION

Abstract

Focusing on computer support of conceptual design, the paper introduces the nucleus concept as a vehicle for the development of a novel modelling front-end that can be transitively inte-grated with commercial CAD systems as well as to extend the functional profile of these sys-tems. The nucleus-based modelling focuses on the relations between the function carriers, rather than on their formation and properties. Relations are governed by the intended opera-tions a product is supposed to provide as well as by the constraints that are imposed on its be-haviours. Nucleus-based modelling is dedicated to conceptual design and simulation, but it can also be employed in detail designs and simulation. In conceptual design, artefactual de-sign concepts are decomposed to interrelated nuclei. A nucleus is a purposeful coupling of at most two effect carrier objects, whose geometry is described by half-spaces, a set of non-conflicting physical effects acting on the carrier objects, and situations. The time history of the relationships implies elementary processes that are the basis of behavioural simulation. To represent the geometric and morphological aspects, various modelling techniques such as functional skeleton modelling, vague discrete interval modelling and fuzzy shape modelling can be adapted.