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MAE PhD Defense – Di Zhu
November 28, 2016 @ 4:00 pm
Title: A New Design Structure Matrix for Model-Based Testing (Advisor: Dr. Larry Sivlerberg)
Date: November 28, 2016
Time & Location: 4:00 PM EB3 – 3235
ABSTRACT
As complexity increases, model-based approaches have become standard in the systems engineering community. However, engineers from different domains approach the system/component development at different levels of abstraction. Information gaps are created because these engineers have different perspectives and design changes occur during the system development. In addition, although systems have become more complex, requiring more attention to testing, system methodologies have not kept up. A new framework is needed to bridge the information gaps between the different domains, estimate duration of development elements such as development phases, development stages, and development activities, and predict effects of design changes. To take full advantage of both model-based approaches and testing, we propose a new framework, in the form of a new Design Structure Matrix (DSM), for complex system development (CSD) and systems-of-systems development (SoSD) that more effectively utilizes information flow from model-based testing (MBT). Toward the goal of being broadly applicable, the framework was designed to be fundamental, flexible, and scalable. Two case studies were conducted to demonstrate how the proposed framework bridges gaps in early development stages. The analysis of both simulation and field testing results has shown that utilization of feedback from MBT refines requirements by closing information gaps earlier. The framework is also able to estimate both the duration of development elements and effects of design changes. Furthermore, all the information loops in the framework match the information loops in the case studies. Last, the framework, because of CSD’s iterative nature, has potential in improving information reuse.
BIOGRAPHY
Di Zhu was born in Nanjing, China, in 1985. He received the B.S. degree in automotive engineering from Shanghai University of Engineering and Science, Shanghai, China in 2007 and a M.Eng. degree in automotive engineering from Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI in 2010. Since 2012, he has been a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering in North Carolina State University, Raleigh. He obtained much experience through working with automotive OEMs and national labs regarding system design and testing. He also had two rounds of internship with Ford Motor Company. Furthermore, he was involved in developing a modular electric generation system with Future Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) systems center. The above research experience helped him develop the dissertation on a new design structure matrix for model-based testing.
