Despite the importance of the architectural modularity of products and systems, existing modularity metrics or algorithms do not account for overlapping and hierarchically embedded modules. This paper presents a graph theoretic spectral approach to characterize the degree of modular hierarchical-overlapping organization in the architecture of products and complex engineered systems. It is shown that the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of a product architecture graph can reveal layers of hidden modular or hierarchical modular organization that are not immediately visible in the predefined architectural description. We use the approach to analyze and discuss several design, management, and system resilience implications for complex engineered systems.
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January 2014
Research-Article
Spectral Characterization of Hierarchical Modularity in Product Architectures1
Somwrita Sarkar,
Somwrita Sarkar
2
Design Lab, Faculty of Architecture,
Design, and Planning,
e-mail: somwrita.sarkar@sydney.edu.au
Design, and Planning,
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
e-mail: somwrita.sarkar@sydney.edu.au
2Corresponding author.
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Andy Dong,
Andy Dong
Faculty of Engineering
and Information Technologies,
e-mail: andy.dong@sydney.edu.au
and Information Technologies,
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
e-mail: andy.dong@sydney.edu.au
Search for other works by this author on:
James A. Henderson,
James A. Henderson
Complex Systems Group, School of Physics,
e-mail: henderso@physics.usyd.edu.au
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
e-mail: henderso@physics.usyd.edu.au
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P. A. Robinson
P. A. Robinson
Complex Systems Group, School of Physics,
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
Brain Dynamics Centre, Sydney Medical School,
e-mail: robinson@physics.usyd.edu.au
University of Sydney
,Westmead NSW 2145
, Australia
e-mail: robinson@physics.usyd.edu.au
Search for other works by this author on:
Somwrita Sarkar
Design Lab, Faculty of Architecture,
Design, and Planning,
e-mail: somwrita.sarkar@sydney.edu.au
Design, and Planning,
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
e-mail: somwrita.sarkar@sydney.edu.au
Andy Dong
Faculty of Engineering
and Information Technologies,
e-mail: andy.dong@sydney.edu.au
and Information Technologies,
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
e-mail: andy.dong@sydney.edu.au
James A. Henderson
Complex Systems Group, School of Physics,
e-mail: henderso@physics.usyd.edu.au
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
e-mail: henderso@physics.usyd.edu.au
P. A. Robinson
Complex Systems Group, School of Physics,
University of Sydney
,Sydney NSW 2006
, Australia
Brain Dynamics Centre, Sydney Medical School,
e-mail: robinson@physics.usyd.edu.au
University of Sydney
,Westmead NSW 2145
, Australia
e-mail: robinson@physics.usyd.edu.au
2Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Design Theory and Methodology Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received March 6, 2013; final manuscript received August 15, 2013; published online November 7, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Jonathan Cagan.
J. Mech. Des. Jan 2014, 136(1): 011006 (12 pages)
Published Online: November 7, 2013
Article history
Received:
March 6, 2013
Revision Received:
August 15, 2013
Citation
Sarkar, S., Dong, A., Henderson, J. A., and Robinson, P. A. (November 7, 2013). "Spectral Characterization of Hierarchical Modularity in Product Architectures." ASME. J. Mech. Des. January 2014; 136(1): 011006. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025490
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