Automated Parametric Design Synthesis Using Graph Grammars and Constraint Solving

Computational design synthesis aims to support human designers throughout the design process. However, most approaches to date are limited to narrow parts of this process. The approach presented in this paper aims to respond to the need for a method that covers not only single aspects of the design process, but the whole design process from requirements to a dimensioned product concept, i.e. product architecture and related parameters. A generic approach is presented that covers requirements engineering, graph grammar-based concept architecture synthesis and automated parameterization of components based on constraint solving. Requirements are elaborated and divided into different categories. Procedures to treat each category of requirement are introduced to provide the initial state for the graph grammar-based concept synthesis. After finishing the automated synthesis based on generic and problem-specific rules, valid solutions for the resulting product concept parameterization are automatically created by setting up and solving a constraint satisfaction problem. Finally, the method is validated through the synthesis of automotive powertrains. This research goes beyond prior work in the field as it provides a continuous and generic approach starting with product requirements and ending with a valid, parameterized product concept.Copyright © 2012 by ASME