Author(s)

N.J.S. Ajderian, S.J. Culley, G. Theobald & J. Vogwell

Abstract

A system for optimum design with standard components N.J.S. Ajderian, S.J. Culley, G. Theobald, J. Vogwell School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK ABSTRACT Almost all engineering assemblies include standard components. Compared with bespoke parts they are cheaper and more readily available. However they are available only in discrete sizes and this presents particular difficulties to many optimisation algorithms. This paper sets out a methodology for incorporating standard component information at the earliest stages of the design process and subsequently producing an optimal concept design. INTRODUCTION The importance of the concept and embodiment stages of the design process (BSI [1]) has been emphasized by recent articles on concurrent engineering (e.g. Nevins and Whitney [2]). Ullman [3] and Dowlatshahi [4] asserted that 75% of the cost of a typical engineering system is determined at the end of this part of the design process.

Keywords