Title: Function-based behavioural modelling

Authors: Ryan S. Hutcheson; Daniel A. McAdams; Irem Y. Tumer

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 656409, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, MS3123, College Station, TX 77843, USA. ' School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6001, USA

Abstract: Using mathematical behaviour models to determine system performance is crucial to the design of complex systems. Nevertheless, during the early stages of design, it is often difficult to create behavioural models as component solutions have not been fully identified. What is known is information about the desired functionality of the system is known. Particularly for complex system design, functional-based representations are important during the early stages of design. The objective of the work presented in this paper is to develop a functional model-based method for creating behavioural models to facilitate early behaviour model creation, model reuse, and concept evaluation. Significant contributions of this work include establishing the method and the formal addition of quantitative flow modelling to existing qualitative functional modelling methods. This quantitative flow modelling method enables a natural and consistent extension of qualitative functional modelling to quantitative behaviour modelling. An extensive example application of the method based on the dynamic modelling of a Society of Automotive Engineers Formula competition racecar is included to illustrate and verify the method.

Keywords: complex system modelling; vehicle design; simulation; function-based design; model reuse; function-based behavioural modelling; mathematical modelling; complex systems; concept evaluation; quantitative flow modelling; dynamic modelling; competition racecars; racing cars.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2012.046636

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2012 Vol.4 No.3, pp.250 - 271

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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