Pattern-based reasoning for rapid redesign: a proactive approach
This paper describes our continued effort in the development of the model-based rapid redesign methodology. In the prior work (Chen et al. in ASME J Mech Des 129:283294, 2007), we have explored and applied various decomposition patterns for rapid redesign to effectively control design change propagation. Since the decomposition process for redesign is not activated until the presence of a redesign request, this prior work represents a reactive approach where a new set of decomposition patterns should be generated in accordance with a different redesign request input. As an extension to our redesign methodology, this paper presents a proactive approach to complement the existing methodology for rapid redesign. In this approach, the decomposition patterns capturing generic decomposed structures of a given design model are created in advance and stored in a design library before any redesign request emerges. These pre-generated patterns are able to address any upcoming redesign request without further decomposition procedures in redesign. This proactive approach is developed in a new framework of pattern-based reasoning that is built on the mechanism case?pattern?strategy. Two methodological components, Proactive Redesign Decomposition and Redesign Condition Analysis, are introduced along with a redesign application to an existing air-cooled condenser for illustration. This redesign approach is particularly useful when it requires only minor yet frequent modifications for the existing design.
rapid redesign redesign methodology decomposition patterns design change propagation