Integrating Design with Downstream Applications through Product Shapes Adaptation Processes

In the aeronautic industry, for various applications involved in the product development process, such as physical phenomena (like mechanical) or virtual reality simulations, various geometric models may be required, which are different from the CAD reference representation. Shape adaptations like healing, simplification, or optimization may be necessary to produce the appropriate geometric shapes and the correct scene semantics for the targeted scenario. Moreover, in order to integrate those applications inside a product development cycle means to be able to prepare quickly and efficiently models, to automate as much as possible preparation processes in order to save time and minimize user-intervention, to rapidly evaluate the impact of upstream modifications on downstream models, and update data when needed. In this paper, we first propose to expose why geometric models adaptation processes from the CAD models to downstream models is important in an industrial design context, and why this is a concurrent engineering enabler. Then, by extending previous works in this domain, we propose to show how this can be done through an appropriate formalization and representation of the process. Finally, based on two EADS case studies, we give methods and criteria to produce adapted shapes from CAD data in a controlled and integrated manner