Conf-2010-TMCE-Interaction Abstract
From Clemson Engineering Design Applications and Research
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[edit] Citation
Caldwell, B.W., Mocko, G.M., 2010, “A Representation of Artefacts and Interactions to Supplement Function,” Tools and Methods for Competitive Engineering, Ancona, Italy, April 2010.
[edit] Abstract
Function-based design methods do not address all aspects of a designed artefact, such as interactions with other artefacts, users, or the environment. In related research, function structures have been extended to include these interactions, but many times they contain non-transformative functions or flows that do not enter the artefact. This research demonstrates that function structures can be used to model active transformations of material, energy, or information through an artefact, and interactions can be modelled as non-transformative descriptions. Two graphical representations are presented that collectively capture artefacts, functions, interactions, and interfaces and the relationships among them. These representations have a greater modelling coverage with respect to customer needs than function models. The overall goal of this research is to create a more complete model of artefacts that supports reasoning on transformative functions as well as interactions in conceptual design.
