Research On Knowledge Navigation Technology Supporting Complex Product Design

In the multi-disciplinary design process of complex product, it is hard for designers to obtain designing knowledge timely and accurately which causes the low efficiency of product design. With consideration of the above problem, knowledge navigation technology (KNT) is proposed to support complex product design. The knowledge database is built up by investigation on knowledge model (KM), and the effective access to knowledge is implemented and based on context. From the perspective of technology and tools for establishment and acquisition of product knowledge, the research on basic theories, methods, key technologies and application system of KNT is conducted comprehensively and deeply in this paper. In the end, take the application examples as the authentication for the technology.In Chapter One, the research background on product knowledge model in enterprises, product design based on knowledge, and complex product design is reviewed and analyzed, and the key problem of complex product design based on knowledge is proposed. In the end, the main content and structure of this paper are given.In Chapter Two, the framework of KNT is built up, besides, the functions and application methods of the components in this framework are discussed. Then, the theories are explained from the perspectives of knowledge organization network model (KONM) and knowledge pushing technology (KPT), in which the procedure of knowledge pushing in product design is proposed. In summary, the theory of KNT supporting complex product design is analyzed.In Chapter Three, the classification, storage and representation of product knowledge oriented to design process are discussed by building up knowledge element model (KEM). KONM is proposed to organize the knowledge elements (KE) reasonably. Take the specific KONM oriented to product concept design phrase to build up the relationships among product knowledge. Based on this KONM, the methods of organizing explicit knowledge and mining tacit knowledge are introduced. In Chapter Four, the framework of KPT is proposed, and context navigation model (CNM), knowledge context network (KCN) and context mapping methods in this framework are discussed. Then, the procedure of knowledge pushing with context is introduced.In Chapter Five, based on KONM and KPT, knowledge navigation system supporting complex product design is built up, taking the knowledge navigation process of industrial steam turbine rotor flow division section designing as an instance.In Chapter Six, the achievements and innovations of this paper are reviewed, and the prospect for future work is given.