An Analysis Model Bus for Distributed, Collaborative Engineering Modeling and Si

Next generation design software will support fully associative geometric and physics-based analysis models throughout the entire product life-cycle. Most current CAD systems directly support finite element systems, but use proprietary database formats that do not promote diverse tool use and may not exist throughout the entire product life-cycle. Model sharing in common practice has been limited to exchanging model instances (without parametric information) via data interchange files (e.g., STEP) or data translation software interfaces (e.g., Parametric Technology's Associative Topology Bus). This approach makes parallel, multi-corporation design inefficient. Additionally, although CAD systems support finite element analysis, this capability usually does not support coupled multidisciplinary, multiple level-of-fidelity analysis models, and so significant effort is expended preparing models for analysis. Software integration packages such as Engineous' iSIGHT and Phoenix Integration's Model Center provide intuitive tools for automating analysis by linking legacy codes together, but do not simplify the development of the analysis model itself. Alternative solutions such as TechnoSoft's AML are more flexible, but require an object-oriented software developer to generate source code for each model. This research will develop a lightweight, platform-neutral analysis model bus (AMB) that exploits Internet data modeling and collaboration technologies to make possible the widespread, distributed storage of and collaborative access to diverse analysis models.