Abstract
Optimizing the disassembly sequence of mechanical systems is very useful in order to improve maintenance and recycling activities (i.e. to reduce costs, times and number of operations). A new virtual disassembly environment, based on two different algorithms, is presented. The first analyses the physical constraints that oppose the movement of the mechanical element: starting from its three-dimensional computer-aided design representation, it creates the ‘AND/OR’ graph of a mechanical assembly that represents the space of disassembly solutions. The second algorithm, using a representation based upon binary trees, allows the automatic exploration of the set of all possible sequences. Among these, the optimal one can be identified, choosing a specific target function. The developed methodology provides the theoretical basis for the creation of a computer-aided design tool able to evaluate the ability to disassemble a mechanical complex during the early design phase.