No presente trabalho se desenvolve como proposta principal, uma investigação experimental sobre o comportamento de elementos de aço formados a frio comprimidos em temperaturas elevadas considerando a influência da restrição ao alongamento térmico. Nessa investigação foram avaliadas as distribuições de temperaturas no contorno da seção transversal e ao longo do comprimento dos elementos. Outrossim, avaliou-se a influência da restrição ao alongamento térmico sobre o comportamento mecânico dos elementos, em especial sobre o desenvolvimento das forças de restrição que surgem durante a fase de aquecimento dos mesmos. Concernente ao comportamento térmico, os resultados indicam que a temperatura resistente de elementos expostos ao calor por todos os lados deve ser determinada com base nas medições realizadas em seções a meia altura do elemento devido à distribuição não uniforme de temperatura ao longo do comprimento. Com relação ao comportamento mecânico, os resultados experimentais mostraram que a resistência pós-crítica em temperaturas elevadas desses elementos é pequena e nesse sentido é mais coerente considerar como temperatura resistente a temperatura correspondente ao momento da perda de estabilidade dos elementos. Em caráter complementar e exploratório foram realizadas análises numéricas para melhorar o entendimento do comportamento em temperaturas elevadas dos elementos de aço formados a frio investigados experimentalmente no presente trabalho. Nas análises numéricas foi avaliada uma estratégia de modelagem em elementos finitos para simular a restrição ao alongamento térmico axial em elementos comprimidos submetidos a temperaturas elevadas. Os resultados apontam que os modelos numéricos foram eficientes para prescrever força de compressão resistente em temperaturas elevadas e o tempo resistente. Por outro lado não foram eficientes para prescrever as temperaturas críticas. No âmbito normativo foram realizadas as avaliações do método de cálculo simplificado proposto na ABNT NBR 14323 (2012) e da possibilidade de adequar o método simplificado de cálculo do EUROCODE 3 parte 1.3 (2006) para o dimensionamento em temperaturas elevadas desses elementos. Os resultados sugerem que o método de cálculo simplificado da ABNT NBR 14323 (2012) foi capaz de fornecer satisfatoriamente a força de compressão resistente dos elementos investigados que se enquadravam nas exigências do método. Outrossim, sugerem que o uso do método simplificado do EUROCODE 3 parte 1.3 (2006) com redução da resistência ao escoamento e módulo de elasticidade do aço para o dimensionamento em temperaturas elevadas de elementos de aço formados a frio carece de mais investigações. / The main proposal of this work was an experimental investigation on the behavior of cold-formed steel compressed members at elevated temperatures considering the influence of restraining to the thermal elongation. In this investigation, it was evaluated the temperature distributions on the cross section and along the height of the members. Furthermore, it was evaluated the influence of restraining to the thermal elongation on the mechanical behavior of these members, in particular on the development of restraining forces during their heating phase. Concerning the thermal behavior, the results indicate the critical temperature of members exposed to heat from all sides should be determined based on measurements performed on sections located at mid-span of the members due to the non uniform temperature distribution along the height. With regards to mechanical behavior, the experimental results showed that the post-buckling resistance at elevated temperatures of these members is small and the critical temperature should be considered as the temperature corresponding to the buckling temperature. Additionally numerical analyzes were performed to better understand the behavior of the cold-formed steel members at elevated temperatures that were experimentally investigated in this study. In the numerical analyzes a modeling strategy was evaluated on finite elements to simulate the axial restraining to the thermal elongation in compressed members subjected to high temperatures. The results show that the numerical models were effective to prescribe the ultimate loads at elevated temperatures and the critical time considering the influence of the axial restraining to the thermal elongation. On the other hand, the numerical models were not effective to prescribe the critical temperature. Within the normative scope, the design method proposed in the ABNT NBR 14323 (2012) (project revision) was evaluated as well the possibility of adapting the EUROCODE 3 part 1.3 (2006) design guidelines to the design of cold-formed steel members at elevated temperatures. The results suggest that the design method proposed in the ABNT NBR 14323 (2012) (project revision) was able to accurately predict the ultimate test loads of the members that were within the requirements of the method. On the other hand, it was found that the use of the EUROCODE 3 part 1.3 (2006) design guidelines with reduction of the mechanical properties at elevated temperatures (yield strength and elastic modulus of steel) for design of compressed cold formed steel members at elevated temperature needs further investigations.

A confecção de uma prótese parcial removível exige a correta determinação do eixo de inserção e, consequentemente, o preparo cuidadoso de planos guias para satisfazer os princípios de retenção e estabilidade. Entretanto, grande parte dos profissionais negligencia esta etapa, seja por desconhecimento de sua importância, dificuldade técnica, quantidade limitada de opções cientificamente comprovadas de seus resultados, ou pela aparente e ilusória economia de tempo e de trabalho que sua realização possa tomar. Então, em função do número limitado de técnicas eficientes para transferência de planos guias e da necessidade de um método que otimize o tempo dos profissionais de forma prática e didática, o presente estudo buscou introduzir uma nova maneira de transferir os planos guias. A nova técnica consiste na utilização de uma placa de vacuum-form (PV), comparando-a com preparos realizados em delineador e com duas outras técnicas pré-existentes: à mão livre (ML) e coroas-guia (CG), analisando sua eficácia e precisão. Réplicas idênticas (n=44) de um modelo de gesso representativo da arcada inferior foram divididas em 11 grupos, com 4 modelos cada. Cada um dos onze estudantes de Odontologia recebeu 4 modelos - em um deles os planos guias já tinham sido previamente preparados com delineador, os quais serviram apenas de referência para que fossem empregados os outros métodos. As diferenças angulares dos planos guias nos 44 modelos, nos sentidos ântero-posterior, látero-lateral e cruzado foram mensuradas por meio de uma máquina de medição por coordenadas. A análise de variância para medidas repetidas e o Teste de Comparações Múltiplas (método de Tukey) revelaram que tanto no sentido látero-lateral, como na avaliação cruzada, houve diferença significativa na média dos preparos feitos no delineador em relação a todas as outras técnicas. No entanto, não foram identificadas diferenças importantes entre os três métodos. Para a avaliação ântero-posterior, verificou-se diferença relevante somente entre os preparos feitos no delineador e CG, o que não foi detectado entre ML, PV e delineador. Observou-se também, que os preparos obtidos com delineador apresentaram variações angulares próximos de zero, indicando paralelismo quase absoluto e que os planos guias preparados nesse dispositivo demonstraram média e variabilidade menores que os outros métodos. As demais técnicas (ML, CG e PV) se comportaram de forma estatistica semelhante, exceto no sentido ântero-posterior, onde a CG apresentou maior variação angular. Concluiu-se que a técnica proposta apresentou resultados satisfatórios em relação aos padrões adotados neste estudo, quando comparada às demais técnicas e ao delineador. Portanto, a mesma pode ser considerada viável, já que sua utilização oferece uma confecção de próteses removíveis de forma mais criteriosa, atendendo às necessidades profissionais, em termos de facilidade e tempo gasto em sua execução. / The confection of a removable partial denture requires accurate determination of the path of insertion and consequently, the careful preparation of guide planes to meet the principles of retention and stability. However, a great number of professionals neglect this step because of unconsciousness of its importance, or technical difficulty, or limited options of techniques or because of apparent and illusory saving of time and work. Due to the limited number of proven effective techniques for guide planes preparation and the need of an effective method for optimizing time of dental surgeons in a clear and practical way, this present study aimed the introduction of a new technique for transferring guide planes. The new technique consists on the use of a vacuum form splint (VF). To measure its efficiency and accuracy it was compared with the preparations carried out in a dental surveyor and with two other pre-existing techniques: freehand (FH) and acrylic resin guide crown (GC). Identical replicas (n=44) of a gypsum model representing a dental lower arch were divided into 11 groups of four. Each of the eleven dental students received four models - in one of the models, the guide planes were previously prepared with the surveyor to be used as a reference for the application of the three transfer techniques in the other three remaining models. The angular differences of the the prepared guide planes on the 44 models were measured by a coordinate measuring machine in the anteroposterior, laterolateral and crossed views. The Analysis of Variance and Tukey method revealed that, for the laterolateral evaluation and crossed evaluation, significant differences were found in the average of the preparations obtained by the surveyor in relation to all other techniques. There were no significant differences among the three techniques. Anteroposterior evaluation showed significant difference between the average of the preparations made by the surveyor and by the GC, which was not observed between the FH and PV groups compared to the surveyor. It was also found that the angular variation obtained by preparations using the surveyor was close to zero degree, indicating almost absolute parallelism. The FH, GC and VF techniques were statistically similar, except for the anteroposterior evaluation. In the anteroposterior evaluation the GC presented higher angular variation. It was concluded that the proposed technique showed satisfactory results concerning the adopted standards in the present study when compared with the preparations made by other techniques and the surveyor. Thus, the VF technique can be considered viable, since it improves the quality of the Removable Partial Denture and meets the professional needs, saving time in the procedures.

Projetos de estabilidade de escavações mineiras por meio de estudos de caracterização do maciço rochoso com o uso da mecânica de rochas são indispensáveis para otimizar o aproveitamento das jazidas, garantir segurança nas operações de lavra e minimizar os impactos ambientais decorrentes da instabilidade dos taludes da cava. Nesta dissertação utilizou-se de critérios recentes de ruptura em rocha, para obtenção de dados de entrada em métodos já clássicos de análise da estabilidade de taludes em maciços rochosos para a cava de dolomito lavrada a céu aberto. Os critérios utilizados serão avaliados com relação à compatibilidade dos resultados obtidos com sua aplicação e a coerência com a situação atual observada na lavra em desenvolvimento. Análises sobre a paralisação da lavra em decorrência dos problemas de instabilidade também serão avaliadas e discutidas. Para ilustrar esta dissertação foi eleita a jazida de dolomito localizada no Sinclinal do Gandarela em virtude dos problemas de instabilidade encontrados na cava. As conclusões finais são apresentadas nos últimos itens deste trabalho. / The design of stable excavations using rock masses characterization with the tools provided by rock mechanics, are indispensable for optimizing the economic exploitation of ore deposits, to ensure the safety in the mining works and to minimize the environmental impacts deriving of the open pit slopes instability. In this Dissertation, for obtain the input data for classic methods of rocky slopes stability analyses, it is used the most recent criteria of rock mass failure applied for an open pit mine of dolomite. The utilized criteria compatibility will be evaluated by the results obtained with their utilization and the coherence with the real situation verified at the developing mine. Will be evaluated and discussed the analyses about the stoppage of the mine works due to the slope instability problems. To illustrate this Dissertation are elected a dolomite ore deposit situated at the Gandarela Synclinal on account of the instability problems that occurred in the mine pit. The final conclusions are listed in the items presented at the end of this work.

The report explain the steps taken to improve a product (SOLVINDEN), which uses sun and wind energy to generate light and is used for outdoor decoration. The research involves improvements in both designas well function. As the form follows function in the product functionality of the form is very important in selection of the form. Some of important topics which are considered are different way of using wind to charge batteries, blades profiles and shape, way of optimizing generator, ratio of the optimal solution between of how much wind power is needed tostart charging and charging efficiency. The report also includes differentway of manufacturing, testing and finalizing the right form afteroptimizing. The solar power and the batteries are not in the scope of theproject.

Everything around us that is not a simple untouched piece of nature has been designed by someone. Human society has found a great refuge in these designed objects or the artefacts, and thus has adapted vociferously to their inclusion into everyday life. From the early conception as art and then lately as scientific activity, now during the last few decades, designing has been understood as a fundamental aspect of human life. This understanding has become a motivating force in the last four decades for design research community. Remarkable theories, methods, models and approaches for designing have been propounded during this period by various active design researchers. Yet a comprehensive design theory remains largely an elusive dream, and usage of proposed methods in practice unimpressive. The dominant paradigms in design theory, though rich in description seem to lack interconnection. The thesis explores and questions the very foundations on which design theories have been built. Theoretical contemplation over designing is sought through asking why question, which brings in context to the forefront. Thus understanding context in designing is the central theme to this dissertation. Incidentally it is the context that holds key to the enhanced usage of design methods in practice. The thesis presents a basis to thaw the development of design theory, and provides a pragmatic approach to augment usage of design methods in practice. These objectives have been achieved through the approach outlined below. • An extensive discussion on the notion of context is presented, underpinned by the detailed survey of definitions and world views held in by various domains of studies in regard to context. The salient characteristics of context identified through this discussion have been used to articulate a concise definition of context. • A comprehensive dialogue, supplemented by the literature in design, incorporating dyv of design, designing, artifacts, and context has been put forth. The theoretical insight obtained has been abstracted into an elemental model of context in designing, that is then elaborated at length. • Definitions of context in designing, context of designing, and that of designing in context have been formulated, using the definition of context and the elemental model of context in designing. • The empirical validation of the proposed model of context in designing has been carried out, which runs across six design projects, accounts for academic; controlled; and industrial environment, as well as focuses on both individual and team designing. Four methods for data collection and analysis - Questionnaire survey, design protocol analysis study, replication protocol analysis, and participant observation study were employed in this exercise. • A detailed prescriptive study for development of aid to designers; in selection process of design methods has been carried out. Based on the issues identified in the literature and survey with designers, a measure to assess contextual usability of design methods (MACUM) was formulated. A web-based software tool based on MACUM has been developed for supporting design method selection process. The thesis concludes that the dominating paradigms in design theory only represent the partial perspective of designing. It is argued that, the proposed model of context in designing provides a sound basis to coherently redress the disjunctions between paradigms of design and progress towards a holistic design theory. And further on the practical end, the thesis underlines the contribution of MACUM towards sustained usage of design methods in practice.

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Η εργασία αυτή μελετά τη σχεδίαση χώρο-ευαίσθητων φορητών παιχνιδιών για πολλούς παίχτες. Τα παιχνίδια αυτά παίζονται χρησιμοποιώντας συσκευές όπως PDAs και πιο πρόσφατα έξυπνα τηλέφωνα. Οι συσκευές δίνουν τη δυνατότητα στους παίχτες να έχουν πρόσβαση σε ψηφιακή πληροφορία κατά την ώρα του παιχνιδιού. Σημαντική είναι η δυνατότητα η πληροφορία αυτή να έχει σχέση με τη θέση και κατάσταση του παίχτη. Η πλαισιογνωστική αυτή πληροφορία καθώς και η δυνατότητα παιξίματος σε χώρους πολιτισμού και χώρους με μεγάλη πυκνότητα πληροφορίας, δίνουν τη δυνατότητα να χρησιμοποιηθούν τα παιχνίδια αυτά στην άτυπη μάθηση (π.χ. από τάξεις μαθητών που επισκέπτονται μουσεία, αρχαιολογικά πάρκα κλπ.). Ο στόχος της μελέτης αυτής διατυπώθηκε ως «η υποστήριξη της σχεδίασης χώρο-ευαίσθητων φορητών παιχνιδιών σε χώρους άτυπης μάθησης». Ακολουθήσαμε μεθολογία βασισμένη στη σχεδιαστική έρευνα και εξετάσαμε τη διαδικασία σχεδίασης, υλοποίησης και αξιολόγησης τέτοιων παιχνιδιών. Ακολουθήθηκε μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση με τρία στάδια. 1. Αποσαφήνιση της έρευνας: εξετάστηκαν τα χαρακτηριστικά των παιχνιδιών και του περιβάλλοντος διάχυτου υπολογισμού τα οποία έχουν σημασία στην ανάπτυξη χώρο-ευαίσθητων παιχνιδιών. 2. Ανάπτυξη εργαλείων σχεδιαστικής στήριξης: αναπτύχθηκε μια λύση σε ένα σχεδιαστικό πρόβλημα, ένα παιχνίδι μάθησης για ένα μουσείο. Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν το MuseumScrabble, που απευθύνεται σε τάξεις μαθητών. Στη συνέχεια μελετήθηκαν οι σχεδιαστικές πρακτικές άλλων ομάδων σχεδιαστών. Μελέτη σχεδιαστικών πρακτικών, με τη μέθοδο της εθνογραφικής ανάλυσης περιεχομένου. Αναλύθηκαν έξι δημοσιεύσεις που αφορούσαν τρεις περιπτώσεις σχεδίασης, υλοποίησης και αξιολόγησης τέτοιων παιχνιδιών. Εργαστήρια σχεδίασης, όπου σχεδιάστηκαν και εκτελέστηκαν εργαστήρια με τη συμμετοχή σχεδιαστών με ποικίλο τεχνικό και επιστημονικό υπόβαθρο. Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν τρία εργαλεία σχεδιαστικής στήριξης. Το πλαίσιο σχεδίασης που περιγράφει σε αδρές γραμμές το χώρο σχεδιασμού, οι οδηγίες σχεδίασης και τα πρότυπα σχεδίσης που παρέχουν οδηγίες για τη στήριξη των σχεδιαστών. 3. Αξιολόγηση της σχεδιαστικής στήριξης: Με την εφαρμογή της στην ανάπτυξη ενός νέου παιχνιδιού, του «Αόρατη πόλη: Επαναστάτες εναντίον κατασκόπων», όπου χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα εργαλεία σχεδιαστικής στήριξης σε κάποιες από τις φάσεις σχεδίασης. Με τη μελέτη των εργαλείων στο πλαίσιο χρήσης τους, όπου ζητήθηκε από σχεδιαστές να χρησιμοποιήσουν τα εργαλεία που αναπτύχθηκαν σε αυτή τη διατριβή για να σχεδιάσουν ένα παιχνίδι. / This dissertation studies the design of location-based multi-player mobile games. These are games which are played using devices such as PDAs or, more recently, smartphones. The devices allow the players to have access to digital information during the game. An important aspect is that this information is related to the location and state of the player. This context-sensitive information as well as the possibility to play at places of cultural importance or other places of high information density offers the opportunity to use this games for informal learning (e.g. by pupils who visit museums, archaeological parks etc.) The aim of this dissertation has been formulated as "to support the design of location-based mobile games in places of informal learning". We followed a methodology based on design research and we examined the processes of designing, implementing and evaluating of these games. The methodological approach that we followed consisted of three stages. 1. Research clarification: the characteristics of location-based mobile games and of pervasive computing environments were examined, which play a significant role in the development of location-based games. 2. Development of design support, which was conducted in three stages. First, a solution for a real-world design problem was developed, a location-based mobile game for pupils who visit a museum. The result was the game MuseumScrabble. Additionally, the design practices of other design teams were studied. Study of design practices, applying an ethnographic content analysis approach. Six publications were analyzed which concerned three cases of designing, implementing and evaluating games of this kind. Design workshops were conducted where the participating designers, of varying and multi-disciplinary background, designed game concepts which were subsequently analyzed to extract game design patterns. The results of these studies were three design support tools. A design framework, which describes the design space, a set of heuristic design guidelines and a number of game design patters which can support the task of designers. 3. Evaluation of the design support tools. By applying the design support in the development of a new game, «Invisible City: Rebels Vs. Spies», where the tools were employed at stages of the design. By studying the tools using a contextual inquiry technique, where it was asked of designers to use the design support tools in order to design a new game.

Raiškiųjų interneto programų technologijos įgyja vis didesnę reikšmę interneto ir verslo sistemų kūrime. Jos leidžia sukurti sklandžią vartotojo sąsają, kuri išnaudoja naujas grafikos, skaičiavimų bei komunikacijos galimybes. Technologija yra aktyviai vystoma ir gauna vis daugiau dėmesio iš programinės įrangos kūrėjų. Šiame darbe pristatomos raiškiųjų interneto programų technologijos ir jų panaudojimas. Pristatomi nauji duomenų, verslo ir vaizdavimo logikos modeliavimo būdai. Aprašomos šių technologijų charakteristikos. Raiškiųjų interneto programų savybės palyginamos su darbastalio ir tradicinėmis interneto programų savybėmis. Sukurta pavyzdinė interaktyvi paskirstyta sistema ir parodomi galimi technologijos pritaikymo ir problemų sprendimo būdai. Galiausiai atliekami našumo ir apkrovimo testai, kurie parodo šių technologijų pritaikymo tikslingumą. / Internet technologies are being developed ever faster, and new ways for representing information are emerging. One such technology is Rich Internet Applications (RIA). This technology allows better and more responsive UI‘s, overwhelming graphic support, new computational, communication and interoperability capabilities. This technology is getting more and more support from key technology developers. In this work you will be presented with RIA technologies and their usage. New ways for working with data, business and presentation layers will be presented. RIA technology characteristics will be thoroughly analyzed and compared with desktop and traditional web applications. An example interactive distributed system will be presented to show possible technology choices and solutions. Finally performance and stress tests will be conducted to show RIA technology feasibility.

This thesis examines the role of intuition in the way that people operate unfamiliar devices, and the importance of this for designers. Intuition is a type of cognitive processing that is often　non-conscious and utilises stored experiential knowledge. Intuitive interaction involves the use of knowledge gained from other products and/or experiences. Therefore, products that people use intuitively are those with features they have encountered before. This position has been supported by two initial experimental studies, which revealed that prior exposure to products employing similar features helped participants to complete set tasks more quickly and intuitively, and that familiar　features were intuitively used more often than unfamiliar ones. Participants who had a higher level of familiarity with similar technologies were able to use significantly more of the　features intuitively the first time they　encountered them, and were significantly quicker at doing the tasks. Those who were less familiar with relevant technologies required more　assistance. A third experiment was designed to test four different interface designs on a remote control in order to establish which of two variables - a feature's appearance or its location - was more important in making a design intuitive to use. As with the previous experiments, the findings of Experiment 3 suggested that performance is　affected by a person's level of familiarity with similar technologies. Appearance (shape, size and labelling of buttons) seems to be the variable that most affects time spent on a task and intuitive uses. This suggests that the cues that people store in memory about a product's features depend on how the features look, rather than where on the product they are placed. Three principles of intuitive interaction have been developed. A conceptual tool has also been devised to guide designers in their planning for intuitive interaction. Designers can work with these in order to make interfaces intuitive to use, and thus help users to adapt more easily to new products and product types.

Objective of the present study is the development of design methods for the control of products’ architecture in order to obtain modular designs. Towards this target, an integrated approach is proposed, investigating the design architecture from two aspects: the -functions to parts- mapping as well as the point of view related to parts’ interactions. For the first aspect, an approach utilizing Axiomatic Design Theory is described in order to control the design architecture with regards to the -functions to parts- mapping. As far as the second aspect is concerned, two indexes are developed quantifying the design architecture in terms of the parts’ interactions perspective. Furthermore, an algorithm for clustering of product’s parts into clusters/modules is introduced. The algorithm utilizes Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Design Structure Matrices (DSMs). The aforementioned developments were incorporated into a CAD based software tool, having as objective the support of modular design. Its main functions are: (a) DSM generation from product CAD model, (b) calculation of the aforementioned indexes, (c) facilitation of clustering and (d) representation of clustered DSM in CAD form. Application of the tool to real case studies from the automotive industry, provide an evaluation of the developed methods. The main outcome of the present work is the integrated approach that was proposed and realized through the software tool, which integrates methods for the handling of a product’s design architecture. This process assists in real time (during the design process) design engineers to the generation of modular designs. The evaluation of the case studies reveals the efficiency of the proposed approach to produce such designs and validates its applicability to industry. / Το αντικείμενο της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η ανάπτυξη μεθόδων για τον έλεγχο της σχεδιαστικής αρχιτεκτονικής των προϊόντων. Για το σκοπό αυτό προτείνεται μια ολοκληρωμένη προσέγγιση η οποία διερευνά τη σχεδιαστική αρχιτεκτονική και από τις δύο της διαστάσεις: την αντιστοίχιση των λειτουργιών του προϊόντος στα μέρη από τα οποία αποτελείται καθώς και την αλληλεπίδραση που έχουν τα μέρη αυτά μεταξύ τους. Για τη πρώτη διάσταση, προτείνεται ένας τρόπος χρησιμοποίησης της Θεωρίας του Αξιωματικού Σχεδιασμού (Axiomatic Design Theory) ώστε να γίνεται έλεγχος της σχεδιαστικής αρχιτεκτονικής ως προς την αντιστοίχιση των λειτουργιών στα μέρη του προϊόντος. Όσον αφορά τη δεύτερη διάσταση, αναπτύσσονται δύο δείκτες οι οποίοι ποσοτικοποιούν την σχεδιαστική αρχιτεκτονική που αφορά τη δομή των αλληλεπιδράσεων των τμημάτων του προϊόντος. Επίσης, εισάγεται ένας αλγόριθμος για την ομαδοποίηση (clustering) των μερών ενός προϊόντος. Ο αλγόριθμος αυτός χρησιμοποιεί Τεχνητά Νευρωνικά Δίκτυα και πίνακες DSM (Design Structure Matrix). Οι παραπάνω μέθοδοι ενσωματώθηκαν σε ένα λογισμικό εργαλείο που αναπτύχθηκε. Το εργαλείο αυτό συνεργάζεται με προγράμματα CAD και έχει ως στόχο την στήριξη του ομαδοποιημένου σχεδιασμού. Οι βασικές του λειτουργίες είναι η δημιουργία του πίνακα DSM ενός προϊόντος χρησιμοποιώντας το αντίστοιχο σχέδιο CAD, ο υπολογισμός των προαναφερθέντων δεικτών, η διευκόλυνση της διαδικασίας ομαδοποίησης καθώς και η αναπαράσταση σε CAD ενός ομαδοποιημένου πίνακα DSM. Μέσω της εφαρμογής του εργαλείου αυτού σε πραγματικές περιπτώσεις της αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίας, πραγματοποιήθηκε αξιολόγηση των μεθόδων που αναπτύχθηκαν. Το κυριότερο αποτέλεσμα της εργασίας είναι η ολοκληρωμένη λύση που προτάθηκε και υλοποιήθηκε μέσω ενός λογισμικού εργαλείου, η οποία ενσωματώνει μεθόδους ελέγχου της σχεδιαστικής αρχιτεκτονικής προϊόντων. Η λύση αυτή βοηθάει σε πραγματικό χρόνο (κατά τη διάρκεια της σχεδιαστικής διαδικασίας) τους σχεδιαστές μηχανικούς, στη δημιουργία καινοτόμων σχεδιασμών. Η αξιολόγηση των περιπτώσεων της αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίας έδειξε την δυνατότητα της προτεινόμενης λύσης να παράγει τέτοιους σχεδιασμούς και επικύρωσε την εφαρμοσιμότητά της σε βιομηχανικό περιβάλλον.