Frameworks for Organizing Design Performance Metrics

Computational tools for aiding design-by-analogy have so far focused on function- and keyword-based retrieval of analogues. Given the critical role of performance and benchmarking in design, there is a need for performance metrics-driven analogy retrieval that is currently unmet. Towards meeting this need, a study has been done to investigate and propose frameworks for organizing the myriad technical performance metrics in engineering design, such as measures of efficiency. Such organizational frameworks are needed for the implementation of a computational tool which can retrieve relevant analogies using performance metrics. The study, which takes a deductive approach, defines a hierarchical taxonomy of performance metrics akin to the functional basis vocabulary of function and flow terms. Its derivation follows from bond graphs, control theory, and Design for X guidelines.