Title: Composites design and manufacturing assistant

Authors: Sherri L. Messimer, John Henshaw

Addresses: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA. ' University of Tulsa, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tulsa, OK 74105, USA

Abstract: The extent of knowledge required to perform the task of recommending composite processes and materials is often beyond the expertise of many novice engineers. A research effort that incorporates integration of a materials and processing knowledge base and a model-based reasoning system to aid an engineer in the selection and critique of composite materials and processes is-known as Composites Design and Manufacturing Assistant (CDMA) and is designed for producibility analysis. The knowledge base is object-oriented in order to encapsulate composite material properties and behaviours thus allowing paradigms which reflect the real-world concepts in a straightforward manner. The model-based reasoning component identifies and verifies compatibility between engineering applications and potential composite materials and processes. A truth maintenance system is used to record information about inferences and dependencies so conclusions may be linked with the reasons behind them. The seamless integration of these systems yields a concurrent engineering system to assist designers in selecting appropriate composite materials and associated manufacturing processes.

Keywords: composites design; composites manufacturing; CDMA; composites manufacturing; model-based reasoning; object-oriented knowledge base; materials selection; concurrent engineering; simultaneous engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1994.036412

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1994 Vol.9 No.1/2/3, pp.105 - 115

Published online: 03 Nov 2010 *

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