On representations and dynamic analysis of concurrent engineering design

Abstract

Abstract The iteration of design tasks in concurrent design is an unavoidable feature in contemporary engineering design. The work transformation matrix is a useful method, recently introduced for analysing a concurrent design process. This work develops a systematic representation of the work transformation matrix method, with a discrete state–space description of the design process. With this representation, the dynamics of the concurrent design process can be easily investigated and predicted, using well-established discrete system analysis and control synthesis techniques. Following the introduction of the new representation, a famous numerical example is revisited to illustrate the use of the new representation, while pointing out a few possibly misleading results in existing research works. Keywords: Concurrent designWork transformation matrixDynamics of design iterationDiscrete state–space modelling Acknowledgements The author wishes to express his sincere appreciation to the Consulting Editor, Prof Derek Sheldon, and to anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. Additional informationNotes on contributorsDohyeon Kim Email: [e-mail]