Design heuristics for pruning the number of mechanism solutions in computer-based conceptual design

A systematic search of solution space has been developed with the use of computational tools in the design of mechanisms in conceptual design. One of the common methods is based on combinatorial algorithms of building blocks in the database. However, the problem of using systematic search is that too many alternatives are produced to be seriously considered by the designers. This paper addresses the issue of managing a solution space using domain knowledge as its basis in both theoretical and practical manners. This is to decide on similarity and feasibility of solutions in the solution space so that unnecessary exploration of these can be avoided at the earliest moment. The ideas are based on gaining an understanding of solutions in a particular domain, design heuristics are derived, by investigating the solution's functional, spatial, and physical attributes. The proposed methods lead to manage the number of solutions to be explored by the designer.