Factors preventing the use of a lightweight design workflow that is inspired by the human locomotive system

Abstract

A workflow for the design process of technological products was derived from a model that describes the interplay of lightweight design principles in the human locomotive system. This workflow is not yet ready to be used. In this paper, starting points for new research with the goal to enable the use of the workflow are discussed. Using the interplay of lightweight design principles of the human body in technical applications is approached because it is claimed that the interplay leads to an additional reduction of mass. This was proven for a technological system in a previous study. This study lead to a workflow to consider the interplay of the principles in the design process of the technological system. In this paper, the essential parts of this workflow are described in an abstract diagram as a calculation workflow. Subsequently, inputs and outputs of the workflow are identified. Then, the calculation workflow is integrated into the process of design. Afterwards, it is discussed that tension chording, which is one of the lightweight design principles, needs further investigation, because the interplay of the principles can only be used if the principles themselves are used.