Interfaces modelling for complex system design through a multi-layer Design Structure Matrix approach

Efficient collaboration within a multidisciplinary team relies on careful interface management, emphasizing the crucial role of components' interactions to ensure the core functionality of complex systems. Achieving seamless integration in interface management relies on meticulous design of these interfaces. However, a notable challenge is defining a universally accepted and flexible representation, hindering the development of a cohesive and interoperable approach for modeling interfaces across different disciplines. To address this, we propose the adoption of a multi-layer Design Structure Matrix (DSM) approach, providing a versatile tool applicable across diverse engineering disciplines for accurate interface management. We illustrating this approach with a use-case of an aircraft bleed-air system. The multi-layer DSM-based representation not only provides a cohesive view of diverse types of system interfaces, but also facilitates in-depth mathematical analysis. The novelty lies in introducing a multi-layer representation of interfaces specifically to support system design of any complexity. While such type of representation is not widely employed for aerospace systems, we foresee its potential to enhance the interface management process. By employing advanced concepts like eigenvector centrality, our approach allows for a nuanced interface analysis, identifying and prioritizing critical elements. Ultimately, adopting a multi-layer DSM approach for precise interface management contributes to improving of efficiency and reliability in the design of complex systems.