Web services based mechatronics product remote finite element analysis techniques

The design of modern complex products is a multi-domain knowledge based activity, with the need to design knowledge within different areas seamlessly connected so as to enhance enterprise product design capability. It is a crucial issue how to help designers to find proper remote finite element analysis solutions from all knowledge repositories to support finite element analysis. This paper proposes a web services based finite element analysis methodology in a distributed knowledge resource environment, with the use of commercial finite element analysis software as a solver, and a prototype system to achieve a local fast modeling, remote analysis, the results exposition in local. This methodology can be used to design innovative mechatronics product. The finite element analysis of crankshaft is given as an example, which demonstrates that the methodology is obviously useful.