Computer Aided Conceptual Design by a Functional Decomposition Method for Process Oriented Heavy Machinery and its Relations to Mechatronization

An essential benefit of mechatronization in process oriented heavy machinery is to get a modular design of the overall system, composed of mechatronic modules, which corresponds widely to the functional structure of the machine. To set up a functional structure appropriately in the conceptual design phase the Functional Decomposition Method is recommended. In general verious functional structures can be found to perform the required overall functions, thus selection steps for the most appropriate must be made. This selection should be facilitated by a mathematical model of a certain specific Functional Solution Concept, which even can be created at high level of abstraction, when still mainly required functions and not technical issues are defined. Such models are named Essential Mathematical Models, as they concentrate on those effects, which are most critical as far as this can be said at the actual level of abstraction. Computer assistance should guide the design team through the conceptual design work, by enforcing som systematic approach and supporting it by facilitating a rigorous documentaion and a mathematical analysis. All this should be done with wide spread software packages.