Successful future surface combatants in the US Navy must embrace the growing integration and interdependency of propulsive and combat systems. Traditionally, the development of Hull, Mechanical and Electrical systems has been segregated from the development of weapons and sensors. However, with the incorporation of high energy weapons into future ship configurations, ship design processes must evolve to embrace the concept of a System of Systems being the only way to achieve affordable capability in our future fleets. This thesis bridges the gap between the physical architecture of components within a ship and the way in which they are logically connected to model the energy flow through a representative design and provide insight into sizing requirements of both system components and their connections using an Architecture Flow Optimization (AFO). This thesis presents a unique method and tool to optimize naval ship system logical and physical architecture considering necessary operational conditions and possible damage scenarios. The particular and unique contributions of this thesis are: 1) initially only energy flow is considered without explicit consideration of commodity flow (electric, mechanical, chilled water, etc.), which is calculated in post-processing; 2) AFO is applied to a large and complex naval surface combatant system of systems, demonstrating its scalability; 3) data necessary for the AFO is extracted directly from a naval ship synthesis model at a concept exploration level of detail demonstrating its value in early stage design; and 4) it uses network-based methods which make it adaptable to future knowledge-based network analysis methods and approaches. / Master of Science / The US Navy faces a future where their ships will be required to perform a greater number and increasingly more diverse mission set while the resources provided to them dwindle. Traditionally, propulsive, electrical and weapons systems onboard ships have been segregated in their development, however, with the incorporation of high energy weapons into future ship configurations, the ship design processes must evolve to incorporate these interdependent power consumers. To take advantage of emerging technologies in a resource constrained environment, the future fleet of the US Navy must incorporate the concept of a “System of Systems” early in the ship design process. This thesis correlates the energy available onboard a ship to how it can be distributed to components in the execution of required missions. Additionally, this thesis provides insight into the sizing requirements of intermediary and auxiliary components using an Architecture Flow Optimization (AFO) by only analyzing energy flow without considering the commodity flow (electricity, mechanical power, chilled water, etc.) which can be calculated post optimization. Using network-based methods allows the AFO to be adaptable to future knowledge-based network analysis methods and approaches while using data directly from a naval ship synthesis model enables the AFO to be scaled to incorporate a large and complex system of systems proving its value to early stage design.

Existe uma comprovada correlação positiva entre a utilização de design e o desempenho comercial das empresas. Portanto, é desejável que o design industrial seja integrado à engenharia no processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP). Este trabalho investiga a integração entre design industrial e engenharia no PDP, com ênfase em empresas brasileiras de pequeno porte, pois existem evidências de negligência desta abordagem integradora e dificuldades práticas, uma vez optado pela integração. Foram propostos um framework, que buscou estabelecer as classes de fatores ou dimensões que podem ter alguma influência no fenômeno, e um conjunto de boas práticas, que pudesse ser utilizado como parâmetro comparativo para a realidade e para a aplicação prática em estudos de caso. Também foram levantados, na revisão bibliográfica, e utilizados um modelo de maturidade de design e uma ferramenta de auditoria do produto. A pesquisa de campo, do tipo pesquisa-ação, utilizou uma amostra de 180 empresas e 10 estudos de caso em profundidade, envolvendo visitas às empresas, entrevistas com empresários e participantes do processo de desenvolvimento, análise documental e participação ativa em casos reais de desenvolvimento de produtos. Os resultados demonstram que a grande maioria das empresas de pequeno porte brasileiras situa-se nos dois níveis mais baixos, entre os quatro possíveis, do modelo de maturidade, o que é uma situação indesejável. A distribuição das empresas de base tecnológica é muito semelhante, o que torna ainda mais preocupante o quadro, pois este tipo de empresa é considerado um instrumento para transformação de conhecimento em riqueza. Os estudos de caso de desenvolvimento de produtos, com ênfase na integração precoce do design industrial à engenharia no PDP, permitem afirmar que os produtos desenvolvidos desta forma tendem a obter melhor desempenho tanto na performance técnica quanto de interface, o que potencialmente melhora suas chances de competição no mercado atual. Foram identificados benefícios e barreiras, adaptações nas boas práticas propostas para sua aplicação nas especificidades das pequenas empresas e implicações da situação observada. / There is a proved positive correlation between design use and business performance. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate industrial design to engineering design in product development process (PDP). This study investigates the integration between industrial design and engineering design in PDP, giving emphasis on brazilian small businesses. There is evidence about the neglect of this integrated approach and difficulties in practice. It has been proposed a framework - trying to stablish the classes of factors or dimensions that have influence on the phenomenon - and a set of best practices to use as a comparative parameter to empirical data and to pratical aplication on case studies. Also, it has been used a design maturity model and a product audit tool, based on the literature review. The field research - action-research type - used a sample of 180 companies and 10 case studies, involving visit to businesses, interviews with business owners and product development process participants, documental analysis and active participation on real cases of product development. The results show that most of brazilian small businesses take place on the two lower levels, among four possible, what is an undesirable situation. The technology-based business distribution on the model is very similar, becoming more concerning this situation, because this kind of enterprise is considered as an instrument to transform knowledge in wealth. The product development case studies with emphasis on early integration of industrial design in the PDP allow to state that products that were developed with this approach tend to gain better results on both technical and human interface performance, what potentially improve the chances to compete in actual market. It was identified benefits and barries, adaptations in proposed best practices for aplication on small businesses and consequences of the observed situation.

Existe uma comprovada correlação positiva entre a utilização de design e o desempenho comercial das empresas. Portanto, é desejável que o design industrial seja integrado à engenharia no processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP). Este trabalho investiga a integração entre design industrial e engenharia no PDP, com ênfase em empresas brasileiras de pequeno porte, pois existem evidências de negligência desta abordagem integradora e dificuldades práticas, uma vez optado pela integração. Foram propostos um framework, que buscou estabelecer as classes de fatores ou dimensões que podem ter alguma influência no fenômeno, e um conjunto de boas práticas, que pudesse ser utilizado como parâmetro comparativo para a realidade e para a aplicação prática em estudos de caso. Também foram levantados, na revisão bibliográfica, e utilizados um modelo de maturidade de design e uma ferramenta de auditoria do produto. A pesquisa de campo, do tipo pesquisa-ação, utilizou uma amostra de 180 empresas e 10 estudos de caso em profundidade, envolvendo visitas às empresas, entrevistas com empresários e participantes do processo de desenvolvimento, análise documental e participação ativa em casos reais de desenvolvimento de produtos. Os resultados demonstram que a grande maioria das empresas de pequeno porte brasileiras situa-se nos dois níveis mais baixos, entre os quatro possíveis, do modelo de maturidade, o que é uma situação indesejável. A distribuição das empresas de base tecnológica é muito semelhante, o que torna ainda mais preocupante o quadro, pois este tipo de empresa é considerado um instrumento para transformação de conhecimento em riqueza. Os estudos de caso de desenvolvimento de produtos, com ênfase na integração precoce do design industrial à engenharia no PDP, permitem afirmar que os produtos desenvolvidos desta forma tendem a obter melhor desempenho tanto na performance técnica quanto de interface, o que potencialmente melhora suas chances de competição no mercado atual. Foram identificados benefícios e barreiras, adaptações nas boas práticas propostas para sua aplicação nas especificidades das pequenas empresas e implicações da situação observada. / There is a proved positive correlation between design use and business performance. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate industrial design to engineering design in product development process (PDP). This study investigates the integration between industrial design and engineering design in PDP, giving emphasis on brazilian small businesses. There is evidence about the neglect of this integrated approach and difficulties in practice. It has been proposed a framework - trying to stablish the classes of factors or dimensions that have influence on the phenomenon - and a set of best practices to use as a comparative parameter to empirical data and to pratical aplication on case studies. Also, it has been used a design maturity model and a product audit tool, based on the literature review. The field research - action-research type - used a sample of 180 companies and 10 case studies, involving visit to businesses, interviews with business owners and product development process participants, documental analysis and active participation on real cases of product development. The results show that most of brazilian small businesses take place on the two lower levels, among four possible, what is an undesirable situation. The technology-based business distribution on the model is very similar, becoming more concerning this situation, because this kind of enterprise is considered as an instrument to transform knowledge in wealth. The product development case studies with emphasis on early integration of industrial design in the PDP allow to state that products that were developed with this approach tend to gain better results on both technical and human interface performance, what potentially improve the chances to compete in actual market. It was identified benefits and barries, adaptations in proposed best practices for aplication on small businesses and consequences of the observed situation.

This study investigated the pedagogical and cultural factors influencing how teachers at a STEAM school integrated engineering into mathematics and science for a majority Latina population. The study was based on the guiding proposition: Teachers at a STEAM school in the Borderlands are uniquely positioned to integrate engineering into mathematics and science, and they play a significant role in broadening the participation of Latinas. This instrumental, embedded case study focused on understanding the pedagogical and cultural factors that influenced how teachers at a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) school integrated engineering, using data from artifact packages and interviews. As a key step toward broadening the participation of Latinas, the study examined how teachers employed engineering-based pedagogies (such as project- and problem-based learning) alongside instructional strategies that supported the cultural backgrounds of Latina students in their mathematics and science courses. The teacher participants were selected from an urban preparatory academy along the southwest border of the United States (U.S.). Mathematics and science teachers were considered embedded units within the case study. Participating teachers gathered curricular artifacts to create a "scoop" package that represented their instruction of engineering in the context of their courses. These artifacts were annotated and used in artifact-based interviews, which served as a primary data source where pairs of participants discussed their past instructional decisions and the factors that influenced how they integrated engineering for a majority Latina population. This study focused on three key factors influencing teachers' instructional choices: state standards, the reinforcement loop, and Cariño. Teachers emphasized using content standards to backward-design engineering-based activities that supported other subjects rather than focusing solely on engineering. Their reform-oriented approach guided this integration. The reinforcement loop, supported by school structures, enhanced teachers' motivation, confidence, and teaching practices, fostering engineering-based learning. Teachers described this loop as a routinized process that also encouraged student engagement through effective classroom management. Ultimately, the five factors were interconnected through the teachers' Cariño (authentic care and respect). Cariño extended beyond simple affection or kindness; it required recognizing students as whole individuals with unique personal and cultural identities. Teachers in the study emphasized that this care had to address students' emotional, psychological, and academic well-being, creating an environment where students felt respected, valued, and a sense of belonging. This comprehensive approach to care was a hallmark of Cariño in education. This study's limitations include its focus on a single STEAM-centric school with ideal conditions for integrating engineering into core subjects, limiting generalizability to schools with different resources, larger class sizes, or non-STEAM focuses. It also overlooked student and family perspectives, despite the critical role of family support in shaping engagement. Methodological challenges, such as unclear artifact submission guidance and disruptions due to teacher schedules, further impacted data collection. Transferability depends on understanding unique enabling factors, such as Cariño, a pedagogy of authentic care emphasizing students' academic and community success. While effective in this setting, its broader applicability to diverse schools with varying dynamics remains uncertain. Future research should explore diverse schools, investigate family involvement in STEAM education, and address methodological gaps to better capture cultural practices and teacher perspectives, ultimately broadening the reach of engineering-based learning. / Doctor of Philosophy / This study explored how teachers at a STEAM school along the U.S.-Mexico border integrated engineering into mathematics and science for a majority Latina population. It examined how pedagogical and cultural factors, including state standards, a reinforcement loop, and Cariño, influenced their instructional choices. Teachers used state standards to backward-design engineering-based activities supporting other subjects and participated in a reinforcement loop through professional learning communities. This loop enhanced motivation and teaching practices, while Cariño—a pedagogy of authentic care—focused on addressing students' emotional, psychological, and academic well-being, fostering a sense of belonging and respect. The study used a case study approach, collecting curricular artifacts and conducting interviews to understand how teachers integrated engineering into their courses. While the findings highlighted effective strategies for broadening Latina participation in STEM, they are limited to the unique conditions of the STEAM-focused school. The results may not generalize to schools with different resources, larger class sizes, or non-STEAM focuses. Future research should expand to other schools in the Borderlands to explore whether these factors hold across diverse settings. Additionally, examining family influences on students' STEM engagement could inform strategies to strengthen support systems for Latina students and other underrepresented groups, inspiring them to pursue STEM careers and creating a more inclusive educational environment.