Computer integrated design systems in concurrent engineering

Sammanfattning: This thesis comprises six papers dealing with implementations and techniques for linking computer-aided applications for design and analysis into a concurrent engineering environment. Each paper deals with a part of the environment - together they constitute an integrated design system for concurrent engineering. Concurrent engineering requires applications across all functions within the company to share and communicate information. The applications used in the product development process need to be linked together. This thesis examines the linking, of applications using databases. In Papers A, B, C, D and F this linking is studied using a relational database. In Paper E an object-oriented database is investigated. Using database technology proved to be an efficient way of linking applications together. In Papers A, C, D and E databases for geometric data, measurement instructions, mechanical systems, computational fluid dynamic and finite element data have been developed as part of a general concurrent engineering environment. In Papers B, E and F the general concurrent engineering environment has successfully been used for performing simulations of manufacturing processes and product performance as well as the verification of the shape of products manufactured by hot isostatic pressing. Solid models have been used throughout all the work as the foundation for the product definition. The solid models can be used by many downstream functions and provide an efficient base for the geometric definition and associated information such as analysis models and probe paths for coordinate measurement inspections.