Matter-Element Representations for Mechanisms Composed of Kinematic Building Blocks

摘要

This paper concentrates on the representation issue for the mechanisms composed of kinematic building blocks. By applying the matter-element concept, a rational and extensible representation framework is proposed. First, the mechanisms are characterized as multi-dimensional matter-elements which facilitate exploring and analyzing the functional and combinatorial characteristics of mechanisms according to the divergence and expansion natures of matter-elements. Then, the matter-elements operation properties and rules are presented for obtaining the concerned characteristics of different combinations of given building blocks. Finally, three different combinations are used to validate the representation scheme. It shows that such a formalized language is beneficial to the information description, integration, and analysis during the conceptual design of mechanisms.