Functional Analysis in Systems Engineering: methodology and applications

Functional Analysis is a fundamental tool of the design process to explore new concepts and define their architectures. When systems engineers design new products, they perform Functional Analysis to refine the new product’s functional requirements, to map its functions to physical components, to guarantee that all necessary components are listed and that no unnecessary components are requested and to understand the relationships between the new product’s components. The chapter begins with the definition of the role of Functional Analysis in conceptual design (section 2) and then proceeds with the description of a proposed methodology (section 3 and sub-sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3) and with the presentation of its applications (section 4 and sub-sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3) at subsystem, system and system of systems levels. Eventually some conclusions are drawn. The design process, in particular the design process of complex systems, can be split into three phases (Raymer, 1999): 1. Conceptual design. 2. Preliminary design. 3. Detail design. Even though Functional Analysis applies to every phase of the design process, it turns out to be particularly useful during conceptual design, when there is still a wide range of potentially feasible solutions for the future product. The precious role of Functional Analysis consists in individuating as many available options as possible, without forgetting any ideas that may offer significant advantages. In the remainder of the chapter we refer specifically to the application of Functional Analysis during the conceptual design phase to explore complex systems.