Study on a design model for the combined functional periodicity obtaining process

The obstacle is that functional periodicity is difficult to obtain when complexity theory based on axiomatic design is used to eliminate system¿s complexity. There are several kinds of characteristics in the complex problem. It is the key for the characteristics to help designers obtain the simple functional periodicity. But if the features are not obvious or the simple functional periodicity obtained by the characteristics can not eliminate the complexity, the combined functional periodicity should be introduced to eliminate the system¿s complexity. This paper proposes a new design process which combines complexity theory with theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ). The design process can help designers obtain combined functional periodicity of the system. A case study shows the application of the process.