Engineering design optimisation using services and workflows

Multi-disciplinary optimisation (MDO) is the process whereby the often conflicting requirements of the different disciplines to the engineering design process attempt to converge upon a description that represents an acceptable compromise in the design space. We present a simple demonstrator of a flexible workflow framework for engineering design optimisation using an e-Science tool. This paper provides a concise introduction to MDO, complemented by a summary of the related tools and techniques developed under the umbrella of the UK e-Science program that we have explored in support of the engineering process. The main contributions of this paper are: (i) a description of the optimisation workflow that has been developed in the Taverna workbench, (ii) a demonstrator of a structural optimisation process with a range of tool options using common benchmark problems, (iii) some reflections on the experience of software engineering meeting mechanical engineering (iv) an indicative discussion on the feasibility of a “plug-and-play” engineering environment for analysis and design.