Research Themes
Constraint-Based Design & Optimisation
Introduction
Research in the CBDO theme is building on the Centre's long-standing expertise in machine, process and systems modelling. The research agenda, developed with key collaborators in the packaging, aerospace and other industries, is based on recognition of the significance of dealing directly with the constraints that arise in the design process. This has led to the creation of constraint modelling techniques for the design and optimisation of engineering systems. In particular, the approach has been applied successfully to packaging machinery and its interaction with material and product.
Current work is aimed at significantly extending constraint modelling capabilities to deal with design problems at a more conceptual stage and with systems with larger numbers of degrees of freedom. In particular, recent work on machine interactions has highlighted the need to be able to deal with more complex systems, where machine, material and product properties are dealt with concurrently. This work is involving study of the decomposition of design tasks, and how to use approximate methods to represent sub-system performance.
Contacts
- Theme leader
- Prof. Glen Mullineux
- Theme representative
- Dr Jason Matthews
Research Networks
Current Projects
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Constraint Annotation of Machine System Designs
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Constraint-based Approaches Within Conceptual Design
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Improving Process Efficiency and Minimising Material Usage in Vertical Form-Fill-Seal Systems
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Including Uncertainty in Level Set-Based Structural Topology Optimisation
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Geometric algebra in the design of smooth curves/surfaces and motions in two and three dimensions
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A Constraint-based Approach to Sustainable Design and Development
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Characterization of product styling to provide feedback during the early stages of design
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Packaging integrity
Completed Projects
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COFFEE - Methodology for the Evaluation of the Capability of Food Equipment to handle product variation (COFFEE)
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ARCHAPS - Automatic Reconfigurable Confectionary Handling and Packaging System (ARCHAPS)
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Teamwork - An investigation of approaches for collaborative working with extremes of specialist knowledge
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IMPACT - Improvements in the design of packaging machinery through an understanding of packaging material and machine interaction
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Synthesis of TRIZ Philosophies with Complexity Theory and Psychology of Creativity
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OBSERVER - Objective Cervical Smear Verification System