A new automated system (called SOUSC) for design optimisation of a mechanical assembly has been developed. SOUSC stands for System Optimisation Using Standard Components. Based on a given layout of the assembly's components, the assembly is able to organise the design process of the assembly, collate useful information for each component's design optimisation and general design data management. In this work, the SOUSC concept has been illustrated by means of a gearbox model. To enable the system to recognise the needs and outputs of the individual component, a standardised procedure has been established for the modelling of the components and their design optimisation routine. Standard component data, as found in manufacturers' catalogues has been organised and incorporated to form part of the design constraints. The need to achieve efficient management of both the standard component data and the data arising from the design of a mechanical assembly has resulted in the development of a database management system package, TEKDEMS. TEKDBMS offers certain facilities necessary in the design process of a mechanical assembly which are not found in commercially available database management systems. The dynamic programming technique for optimisation has been employed. Coupled with the strategy of decomposition, the assembly is broken up into a series of interdependent stages and the principle of returns applied recursively. This technique has been found to be a useful and suitable method as it fitted in with the desired feature of flexibility in design optimisation of mechanical assemblies.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Supervisors: Martin D.F. Wong and Aloysius K. Mok. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-71). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

The contribution to knowledge presented in this thesis is the dynamic contingency approach, supported through software, which supports the management of the early, conceptual stages of electronic engineering team design. 1he term contingency pertains to the design environment being in a contingent state, that is "dependent on uncertain issues" (Hayward & Sparkes, 1991). These issues are typically dynamic, that is ''pertaining to forces not in equilibrium, forces that produce motion" (Hayward & Sparkes, 1991). The concept for the dynamic contingency approach was developed through a soft systems analysis. This analysis drew upon an ethnographic study conducted in parallel with the present work by another researcher. Both the present work and the ethnographic study were carried out within a multidisciplinary research team in collaboration with an industrial partner (company A). This thesis discusses the evolution of this multidisciplinary research method, including the development of a software prototype (EDAPT), which enabled the requirements for the dynamic contingency approach to be established. Through this research method key issues were identified which affect the ability of design managers, and to a lesser extent design engineers, to adequately perceive the current situation of a design project; and to determine appropriate corrective responses to potential problem situations. The work indicates that this is particularly true when under pressure in such a complex, interdependent and dynamic environment. This thesis illustrates how the environment of design can be dependent upon these key issues which are often uncertain, that is, the environment is in a contingent state. Furthermore, the thesis depicts the dynamic nature of these issues. The dynamic contingency approach was developed in response to these issues in partnership with the industrial collaborator. The approach synthesises a variety of such issues to support the coordination of interdependencies, provide a view of the current project situation, alert stakeholders to potential problem situations, and present possible responses to potential problem situations. In short, what has been achieved is a design management worldview with sufficient detail to help people expect and anticipate what might happen, and how others may behave in a team design environment, together with the foundations for a system which enables and supports this perspective. In essence the approach provides a way of conceptualising the design environment which should enable improvements in the management of design teams at the early, conceptual stages of electronic engineering design projects.

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Despite the development of computational technology and AI over the past 40 years, it is the case that the application of computers for architectural uesign, especially in the early design stage, still remains in its infancy. This thesis searches for a solution, from a theoretical framework, for the computation of design, which is different from the problem-solving paradigm often adopted. Firstly, the thesis accounts for designing as a phenomenon of design thinking-action. That is, the two activities - doing the thinking and design action - usually occur and develop simultaneously, and are characterised as a creative activity and a visual thinking process. Secondly, in order to account for the mental mechanism occurring in design thinking-action, this thesis describes the designer's mind as with a metaphor derived from current theories in image processing research in cognitive science; the ideas of mental space. In the thesis, mental space is defined as a conscious system, which has its structure and functions that can transfer external events into inner symbolic representations (design thinking) and simultaneously visualise these internal representations during the external process (design action). Thirdly, based on these theoretical assumptions, I propose a mental space computational model, which is a design computational environment to attempt to mimic the mental operations and processes in the architect's mental space. It focuses on design activities rather than design cognition; the usefulness of computers for design rather than the computability of design; and design tools rather than memorybased intelligent systems. Throughout this thesis, I try to avoid the dualistic arguments which classify architectural design as either artistic or scientific, so that I can provide an inclusive theoretical foundation in explaining design phenomena for general design studies as well as for CAAD (Computer-Aided Architectural Design).

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