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A heuristic-based approach to conceptual design

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Abstract

In the inherently large space of design, explicating all possible concept variants—to avoid leaving out potential concepts—is astronomically costly, if at all possible. A strategy that can assist designers in exploring and ascertaining design solutions within this vast space is therefore crucial. This work adapts a general best first heuristic algorithm for applications on conceptual design problems. The algorithm is tailored to operate on a model of conceptual design postulated in this paper. The propositions are established by an ordered series of formal definitions and mathematical assertions, which characterizes the complete theoretical model. Via a simple design case study, this product conceptualization approach is demonstrated to strategically guide designers in the exploration of design concepts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, North Spine (N3), Level 2, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Yih Tng Chong, Chun-Hsien Chen & Kah Fai Leong

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  1. Yih Tng Chong
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  2. Chun-Hsien Chen
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  3. Kah Fai Leong
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Correspondence to Chun-Hsien Chen.

Appendix

Appendix

The instantiated knowledge objects of the case study (see Sect. 5) are shown in Tables 5, 6 and 7. They are computationally represented based on frames, with the general forms as shown in Tables 2, 3 and 4.

Table 5 Object class S in G′
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Table 6 Object class C and P in G′
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Table 7 Relational object class U, V and W in G′
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Chong, Y.T., Chen, CH. & Leong, K.F. A heuristic-based approach to conceptual design. Res Eng Design 20, 97–116 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-008-0059-9

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