A strategy for solving coupled functional equations

Abstract

The designer, in order to guarantee the function of the product, firstly identifies the functional requirements and then establishes the relationships between each functional requirement and dimension. These relationships are known as functional equations. A body of literature proposing a number of strategies has been published for the solving of these independent functional equations but there has been less interest in the solving of coupled functional equations, which require an extra strategy to determine an optimum solution order. In this paper a strategy suitable for computer application and which can be used for generating an optimum solution order for a group of coupled functional equations is proposed. This should fill the need for a means of identifying this presently overlooked aspect of dimensioning and tolerancing and, while determining the solution of a group of coupled functional equations, take into account a number of factors such as the number of functional equations involved and the number of independent and coupled dimensions in each functional equation.