This paper proposes a CSG-based representation scheme for heterogeneous objects including multi-material objects and Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). In particular, this scheme focuses on the construction of complicated heterogeneous objects guaranteeing desired material continuities at all the interfaces. In order to create various types of heterogeneous primitives, we first describe methods for specifying material composition functions such as geometry-independent, geometry-dependent functions. Constructive Material Composition (CMC) and corresponding heterogeneous Boolean Operators (e.g. material union, difference, intersection. and partition) are then proposed to illustrate how material continuities are dealt with. Finally, we describe the model hierarchy and data structure for computer representation. Even though the proposed scheme alone is sufficient for modeling all sorts of heterogeneous objects, the proposed scheme adopts a hybrid representation between CSG and decomposition. That is because hybrid representation can avoid the unnecessary growth of binary trees.

Ribs and fans are interesting geometric entities that are derived from an ordinary $B\'{e}zier$ curve or surface. A rib itself is a $B\'{e}zier$ curve or surface with a lower degree than the given curve or surface. A fan is a vector field whose degree is also lower than its origin. First, we present methods to transform the control points of a $B\'{e}zier$ curve or surface into the control points and vectors of its ribs and fans. Then, we show that a $B\'{e}zier$ curve of degree n is decomposed into a rib of degree (n-1), a fan of degree (n-2), and a scalar function of degree 2. We also show that a $B\'{e}zier$ surface of degree (m, n) is decomposed into a rib of degree (m-1, n-1) and three fans of degrees (m-1, n-2), (m-2, n-1), and (m-2, n-2), respectively. In addition, the lengths of the fans are further controlled by scalar functions of degree 2 and (2, 2). We present relevant notations and definitions, introduce theories, and present some of design examples.

Currently, it is necessary to share and exchange drawing information between 2D and 3D data in AEC(Architecture, Engineering & Construction) fields. The authors suggest an information model framework to express IFC(Industry Foundation Classes)-based drawing of 3D AEC products as 2D drawing. In this study, 1) an information framework has been developed to enable sharing and exchange of AEC product model by adding various information factors, 2) standardized APIs and an IFC2DBrowser are developed.

For the design and analysis of 3D object featuring complexity and irregularity in shape, sectional digital images measured by an industrial CT scanner are employed to generate a finite element model with uniform voxels. The voxel model plays a key role in developing an integrated reverse engineering system including geometric modeling, simulation and optimization. Design examples applied to topology optimization show that the proposed approach can provide a remarkable reduction in time cost at the conceptual and detail design stages.

Information integration of heterogeneous digital parts libraries or electronic pars catalogs is one of issues in B2B procurements. We need to provide an integrated view for multiple information sources. Utilization of ontologies as the metadata descriptions of the information sources can provide an integrated view. However, in order to integrate independently developed ontologies, the mismatches among them should be resolved. In this paper, we propose an ontology of meta-concepts, i.e. meta-ontology. The meta-concepts play the role of vocabulary to describe the parts library ontologies and provide well-established ontological semantics that helps the ontology modelers to consistently identify parts library concepts and systematically structure them. Consequently, the meta-ontology reduces the differences in the way the parts knowledge is interpreted and ensures the mismatches are confined to manageable mis matches, so that a software program can merge automatically. Modeling ontologies of mold and die parts libraries for B2B e-commerce is taken as an example to show how to use the meta-ontology. We also discuss how a parts library mediation system can automatically merge the well-structured parts library ontologies.

It is becoming a common trend that many designers work on a very complex assembly together in a collaborative environment. In this environment, every designer should be able to see the whole assembly in a full detail or in a rough shape at least. Even though the hardware technology is being improved very rapidly, it is very difficult to display a very complex assembly at a speed to allow smooth interactions for designers. This problem could be solved if a designer could manipulate his portion of the assembly in a full resolution while the remaining portion of the assembly is displayed in a rough resolution. It is also desired that the remaining portion is converted to the full resolution when needed. To realize this environment, the capabilities to simplify the portions of an assembly and to reset to the original resolution should be added to the current CAD systems. Thus operators realizing multi-resolution on B-rep are proposed in this paper. They are: wrap-around, smooth-out, and thinning operator. Through appropriately applying these operators sequentially, an assembly model of any desired resolution can be easily generated. Of course, the assembly can go back to the finer resolution. In this paper, the data structures and the processes to realize these operators are described and a prototype modeling system with these operators is also demonstrated.

The exchange of CAD (Computer Aided Design) models between different CAD systems and to downstream applications such as manufacturing has become very important to modem industry. One serious current issue is that the process cannot automatically import existing 3-D solid models in a variety of commercial CAD formats into the process without manually re-mastering the model in current standard including "SIEP AP(Application Protocol) 203 Edition 1" To fully integrate technical data from the design agency to the shop floor, design intent and validated 3D geometry of feature based parametric CAD model should be brought into the standardized processes. To overcome this limitation, AP203 Edition 2 (Ed.2) and its related STEP parts such as Part55, Part108, Part109, Part111 and Part112 are starting to be available to handle this problem. The features in Part111 are harmonized with the machining features available in AP224. This paper is focused on two mapping technologies: CAD to Part111 mapping and Pat111 to AP224 mapping including case studios and it will provide the guideline about what should be done next in the AP203 Ed.2 to AP224 mapping. The final goal of this project is to integrate technical data from CAD to AP224 based manufacturing information through AP203 Ed.2.

It is very often necessary to search for similar parts during designing a new product because its parts are often easily designed by modifying existing similar parts. In this way, the design time and cost can be reduced. Thus it would be nice to have an efficient similarity comparison algorithm that can be used anytime in the design process. There have been many approaches to compare shape similarity between two solids. In this paper, two parts represented in B-Rep is compared in two steps: one for overall appearances and the other for detail features. In the first step, geometric information is used in low level of detail for easy and fast pre-classification by the overall appearance. In the second step, feature information is used to compare the detail shape in high level of detail to find more similar design. To realize the idea above, a multi resolution algorithm is proposed so that a given solid is described by an overall appearance in a low resolution and by detail features in high resolution. Using this multi-resolution representation, parts can be compared based on the overall appearance first so that the number of parts to be compared in high resolution is reduced, and then detail features are investigated to retrieve the most similar part. In this way, computational time can be reduced by the fast classification in the first step while reliability can be preserved by detail comparison in the second step.