Computer-Aided Reliable and Optimal Design (CAROD) system is an efficient tool defining the best compromise between cost and safety. Using the concurrent engineering concept, it can supply the designer with all numerical information in the design process. This system integrates several fields such as multidisciplinary optimization, reliability analysis, finite element analysis, geometrical modeling, sensitivity analysis and concurrent engineering. When integrating these disciplines, many difficulties are found such as model coupling and computational time. In this paper, we propose a new concurrent methodology satisfying the reliability requirement, allowing the coupling of different models and reducing the computational time. Two applications (rotating disk and hook structures) demonstrate that CAROD system can be a practical concurrent engineering application for designers.

It is not possible to exchange parametric information of CAD models based on the current version of STEP. The design intent can be lost during the STEP transfer of CAD models. The Parametrics Group of ISO/TC184/SC4 has proposed the SMCH schema, which includes constructs for exchange of parametric information. This paper proposes a macro-parametric approach that is intended to provide capabilities to transfer parametric information including design intents. In this approach, CAD models are exchanged in the form of macro files. The macro file contains the history of user commands, which are used in the modeling phase. To exchange CAD models using the macro-parametric approach, the modeling commands of several commercial CAD systems are analyzed. Those commands are classified and a set of standard modeling commands has been defined. Mapping relations between the standard modeling commands and the native modeling commands of commercial CAD systems are defined. The scope of the current version is limited to parts modeling, not assemblies.

This paper presents an efficient line-offset algorithm for general polygonal shapes with islands. A developed sweep-line algorithm (SL) is introduced to find all self-intersection points accurately and quickly. The previous work is limited to handle polygons that having no line-segments in parallel to sweep-line directions. The proposed algorithm has been implemented in Visual C++ and applied to offset point sequence curves, which contain several islands.

De-manufacturing is an entire process of collecting, disassembling, reusing, refurbishing, recycling, and/or disposing products that are obsolete or un-repairable. Designing the products for inexpensive and efficient disassembly enhances the ease of de-manufacturing. Virtual disassembly addresses the difficulty and the methods to disassemble a product in design stage rather than really disassemble a product at the end of its life cycle. Based on the virtual disassembly analysis results, design will be improved for better assembling/disassembling. This paper presents a systematic virtual disassembly methodology such as disassembly relation modeling, path/sequence automatic generation and evaluation. This paper also presents a new virtual disassembly interface paradigm via virtual reality technology for disassembly simulation in virtual environment.

This paper presents a structure and architecture of an integrated simulation method (ISM) to meet the requirements of virtual factory engineering (VFE). Combining CAD, VR and discrete event simulation techniques, the ISM provides static and dynamic simulation functions for implementation of VFE throughout the lifecycle. The static simulation can be used to evaluate the factory layout. The dynamic simulation enables us to evaluate ergonomics of factory, process performance of production system, feasibility of production plan and operation of factory, and to train operators safely, which cover the whole VFE lifecycle. The principles of the key techniques of VFE, including virtual factory data management system (VFDMS), static and dynamic simulation, are also discussed. To demonstrate and validate the ISM, a case study has been carried out in an assembly factory.

Given a set of three generator circles in a plane, we want to find a circumcircle of these generators. This problem is a part of well-known Apollonius' $10^{th}$ Problem and is frequently encountered in various geometric computations such as the Voronoi diagram for circles. It turns out that this seemingly trivial problem is not at all easy to solve in a general setting. In addition, there can be several degenerate configurations of the generators. For example, there may not exist any circumcircle, or there could be one or two circumcircle(s) depending on the generator configuration. Sometimes, a circumcircle itself may degenerate to a line. We show that the problem can be reduced to a point location problem among the regions bounded by two lines and two transformed circles via $M{\ddot{o}}bius$ transformations in a complex space. The presented algorithm is simple and the required computation is negligible. In addition, several degenerate cases are all incorporated into a unified framework.

In many areas of industry, it is desirable to have fast and reliable systems in order to quickly obtain suitable solid models for computer- aided analyses. Nevertheless it is well known that the data exchange process between CAD modelers and CAE packages can require significative efforts. This paper presents an approach for geometrical data exchange through triangulated boundary models. The proposed framework is founded on the use of STL file specification as neutral format file. This work is principally focused on data exchange among CAD modelers and FEA packages via STL. The proposed approach involves the definition of a topological structure suitable for the STL representation and the development of algorithms for topology and geometry data processing in order to get a solid model suitable for finite element analysis or other computer aided engineering purposes. Different algorithms for model processing are considered and their pros and cons are discussed. As a case study, a prototype modeler which supports an exporting filter for a commercial CAE package has been implemented.

This paper presents the development of an Intelligent Cavity Layout Design System (ICLDS) for multiple cavity injection moulds. The system is intended to assist mould designers in cavity layout design at concept design stage. The complexities and principles of cavity layout design as well as various dependencies in injection mould design are introduced. The knowledge in cavity layout design is summarized and classified. The functionality, the overall structure and general process of ICLDS are explained. The paper also discusses such issues as knowledge representation and case-based reasoning used in the development of the system. The functionality of the system is illustrated with an example of cavity layout design problem.