A workflow-based distributed multidisciplinary design optimization framework

In this paper, we propose a generic framework for multidisciplinary design optimization application, which incorporates several existing technologies such as workflow, agent, adapter, Web and XML workflow is used to allow the designer to construct complex branching and iterative MDO problem formulations and automate the design process execution. Agent is employed to manage and coordinate the operations on system resources, and more significantly perform the dynamic load balancing among a cluster of computers. Adapter is integrated to encapsulate commercial or noncommercial engineering tools to provide the designer with uniform interfaces. Web enables the geographically distributed experts to solve a multi-disciplinary problem cooperatively. XML is used to exchange data between adapters and applications. A Java-based prototype system implementation of the proposed MDO framework is presented.