SYSML4TA: A SysML Profile for Consistent Tolerance Analysis in a Manufacturing System Case Application

Tolerance analysis is a key engineering task that is usually supported by domain-specific analysis models and tools that are generally not connected to the system functionality. The model-based system engineering (MBSE) approach is a potential solution to this limitation, but it has not yet been deeply explored in this type of mechanical analysis, for which some problems need to be explored. One of these issues is the capacity of languages such as SysML to describe solution principles based on active surfaces that participate in functionality and are present for tolerance analysis. Thus, this study explored the possibilities that enable SysML to represent these geometries and their mathematical relationships based on Topologically and Technologically Related Surfaces (TTRS) theory and aligned with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) standards. Additionally, the capacity of SysML to assure the consistency of tolerance analysis models is also explored, due to the limitations identified in analysis languages like Modelica. In this context, this paper presents a SysML profile for tolerance analysis modeling (SysML4TA), containing domain-specific semantics (concepts and constraints) to assure the completeness of the analysis models and consistency between the different models considered in the integrated model of the system. Finally, a case study applied to a manufacturing context is presented to validate the capacity of SysML to solve the identified problems.