Title: Coupling symbolic and numerical computing in the development of an expert system for the design of mechanical systems

Authors: Dennis E. Moy, Terry V. Baughnt

Addresses: Texas Instruments, Inc., PO Box 869305 MS-8408, Plano, Texas 75086, USA. ' Texas Instruments, Inc., PO Box 405 MS-3453, Lewisville, Texas 75067, USA

Abstract: Artificial intelligence techniques are used to combine principles in the fields of computer science and mechanical engineering. An expert system is developed which combines symbolic and numerical computing. The expert system is developed on a microcomputer with modest hardware and software requirements and may be applied to many mechanical design problems. The expert system was tested by applying it to the design of V-belt drives. The computerised process is fast and accurate enough to establish several alternative designs in about 1/20 the time required by an experienced designer who is both familiar with the V-belt catalogue method and knowledgeable in standard V-belt design. If one has no design experience in V-belt selection, the time savings is even more significant.

Keywords: expert systems; knowledge based systems; KBS; V-belt design; symbolic computing; numerical computing; mechanical systems design; mechanical engineering; mechanical design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1990.062712

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1990 Vol.3 No.3, pp.201 - 206

Published online: 11 Jun 2014 *

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