Automatic recognition method based on fuzzy inference for planar-top rib in aircraft structural parts

First, the geometric, parametric, and process attributes of planar-top rib were analyzed; the representation model of the planar-top rib was given. Second, the principle of recognition was introduced as well as the key technologies of the recognized method. The attribute adjacency graph of the structural part model was constructed; the attributes of the faces and edges of the computer-aided-design (CAD) model were calculated to assign the values to elements of the graph. The weighted relative rules for identifying the main face were designed; then the main face of planar-top rib was abstracted from the attribute adjacency graph by fuzzy reasoning method. Other relative feature faces were searched while the main face of planar-top rib was defined as seed face. Finally, the flow chat of this proposed technique was given and the algorithm was implemented to identify the planar-top rib in aircraft structural automatically. According to the test examples and application, the approached recognition method is correct and efficient. Meanwhile, the recognized rib feature by this approach can be applied directly into the successive machining operation for automatic numerical control programming.