1/27/2015 Authors: Briana Lucero; Vimal K. Viswanathan; Julie S. Linsey; Cameron J. Turner
J. Mech. Des.. 2014; 136(12):121101-121101-11.
doi: 10.1115/1.4028280

This research defines the basis for a new quantitative approach for retrieving useful analogies for innovation based on the relevant performance characteristics of functions. The concept of critical functionality is the idea of identifying only a certain set of pertinent design functions that significantly define the functionality of the product.  A critical function (CF) is a function within a functional model whose performance directly relates to a Key Performance Parameter (KPP) of the system as a whole. These critical functions will enable multiple analogies to be presented to a designer by recognizing similar functionality across distant design domains and incorporating key performance criteria. The ultimate focus of this research project is to create a performance-metric-based analogy library, called the Design Analogy Performance Parameter System (D-APPS). By focusing on a select set of “critical” functions, more design domains can be included in the database facilitating analogy retrieval founded on the qualification of key performance parameters. Such is the case of the beam and bamboo analogy based upon the critical function of maintaining structural stability.

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