Representation of functions and features in detail design

Due to incomplete representation schemes of products and components at the detail design stage, most of the design tasks can only be performed by experienced designers. The problems associated with the representation schemes include the description of requirements, functions, tolerances, features, as well as relations among them. In this paper, classification of function and feature relations is proposed. Graph theory is used to represent the function feature relations as well as their inter-relations. The representation scheme proposed offers a foundation for further development and integration of the design system. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd