Graph representation of physical effects networks in conceptual design

This paper proposes a graph representation of networks of physical effects for supporting the generation of alternative solutions in conceptual design. Physical parameters are herein understood as elements which have physical effects as input and output. Physical parameters can be linked to other physical parameters by physical effects that match their respective input and output. For a given design problem, if both a starting parameter and a desired end parameter are known, lists of physical effects can thus be used to build a network of physical effects that encompasses all physically possible solutions. This network can be displayed using graph representations, constituting a solution space on the physical effect level of abstraction. Via the application of constraints, valid chains of physical effects to a given design problem can be extracted. Examples of use are given and transforming the graph representation to design structure matrix methodology is discussed.