ModeFRONTIER
Encyclopedia
modeFRONTIER is a multi-objective optimization and design environment, written to couple CAD/computer aided engineering (CAE)
tools, finite element structural analysis
and computational fluid dynamics
(CFD) software. It is developed by ESTECO Srl and provides an environment for product engineers and designers. modeFRONTIER is a GUI driven software written in Java that wraps around the CAE tool, performing the optimization by modifying the value assigned to the input variables, and analyzing the outputs as they can be defined as objectives and/or constraints of the design problem.
/PIDO
tools, being one of the first to enable true multi-objective optimization through Pareto dominance criteria. The latest release is version 4.0 (February 2008).
script, UNIX
shell, Python programming language
, Visual Basic
, JavaScript
,etc...) and direct integrations nodes (with many CAE
/CAD and other application programs).
(DOE
), optimization algorithms and robust design tools, that can be combined and blended to build up the most efficient strategy to solve complex multi-disciplinary problems.
towards 6 Sigma: optimizing a design taking into account uncertainties and tolerances. RSM
techniques can be used to overcome the increase in time-expense due to this extensive statistic approach.
Computer-aided engineering
Computer-aided engineering is the broad usage of computer software to aid in engineering tasks. It includes computer-aided design , computer-aided analysis , computer-integrated manufacturing , computer-aided manufacturing , material requirements planning , and computer-aided planning .- Overview...
tools, finite element structural analysis
Structural analysis
Structural analysis is the determination of the effects of loads on physical structures and their components. Structures subject to this type of analysis include all that must withstand loads, such as buildings, bridges, vehicles, machinery, furniture, attire, soil strata, prostheses and...
and computational fluid dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics, usually abbreviated as CFD, is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the calculations required to simulate the interaction of liquids and gases with...
(CFD) software. It is developed by ESTECO Srl and provides an environment for product engineers and designers. modeFRONTIER is a GUI driven software written in Java that wraps around the CAE tool, performing the optimization by modifying the value assigned to the input variables, and analyzing the outputs as they can be defined as objectives and/or constraints of the design problem.
History
ESTECO was created in 1999 to transfer the knowledge acquired by its founders while working on a European Union sponsored project on Design Optimization (FRONTIER, started in 1996) into a commercial product, called modeFRONTIER. In 2001, modeFRONTIER version 2.4 become a global player among the MDOMultidisciplinary design optimization
Multi-disciplinary design optimization is a field of engineering that uses optimization methods to solve design problems incorporating a number of disciplines. As defined by Prof. Carlo Poloni, MDO is "the art of finding the best compromise"...
/PIDO
PIDO
PIDOPIDO stands for Process Integration and Design Optimization. Process Integration is needed as many tools are used in a multi-domain system design. software is developed in a different toolchain than the mechanical properties of a system, where structural analysis is done using again some...
tools, being one of the first to enable true multi-objective optimization through Pareto dominance criteria. The latest release is version 4.0 (February 2008).
Process integration
The logic of the optimization loop can be set up in a graphical way, building up a "workflow" structure by means of interconnected nodes. Serial and parallel connections and conditional switches are available. modeFRONTIER builds automatic chains and steers many different external application programs using scripting (DOSDOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
script, UNIX
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
shell, Python programming language
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
, Visual Basic
Visual Basic
Visual Basic is the third-generation event-driven programming language and integrated development environment from Microsoft for its COM programming model...
, JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
,etc...) and direct integrations nodes (with many CAE
Computer-aided engineering
Computer-aided engineering is the broad usage of computer software to aid in engineering tasks. It includes computer-aided design , computer-aided analysis , computer-integrated manufacturing , computer-aided manufacturing , material requirements planning , and computer-aided planning .- Overview...
/CAD and other application programs).
Design optimization
modeFRONTIER includes design of experimentsDesign of experiments
In general usage, design of experiments or experimental design is the design of any information-gathering exercises where variation is present, whether under the full control of the experimenter or not. However, in statistics, these terms are usually used for controlled experiments...
(DOE
Design of experiments
In general usage, design of experiments or experimental design is the design of any information-gathering exercises where variation is present, whether under the full control of the experimenter or not. However, in statistics, these terms are usually used for controlled experiments...
), optimization algorithms and robust design tools, that can be combined and blended to build up the most efficient strategy to solve complex multi-disciplinary problems.
Design of experiments
- Different strategies are available, including random generator sequences, FactorialFactorialIn mathematics, the factorial of a non-negative integer n, denoted by n!, is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to n...
DOEs, Orthogonal and Iterative Techniques, as like as D-Optimal or Cross Validation. Monte CarloMonte Carlo methodMonte Carlo methods are a class of computational algorithms that rely on repeated random sampling to compute their results. Monte Carlo methods are often used in computer simulations of physical and mathematical systems...
and Latin hypercube are available for robustness analysis.
Multi objective algorithms
- Among the others, different implementations of Genetic AlgorithmGenetic algorithmA genetic algorithm is a search heuristic that mimics the process of natural evolution. This heuristic is routinely used to generate useful solutions to optimization and search problems...
, Game TheoryGame theoryGame theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
, Simulated AnnealingSimulated annealingSimulated annealing is a generic probabilistic metaheuristic for the global optimization problem of locating a good approximation to the global optimum of a given function in a large search space. It is often used when the search space is discrete...
, Evolution strategies are able to manage continuous, discrete and mixed variable problems. More classical mono-objective algorithms are as well available, as like as Gradient-based methods or Simplex algorithmSimplex algorithmIn mathematical optimization, Dantzig's simplex algorithm is a popular algorithm for linear programming. The journal Computing in Science and Engineering listed it as one of the top 10 algorithms of the twentieth century....
.
Response surfaces
- Different Response surface methodologyResponse surface methodologyIn statistics, response surface methodology explores the relationships between several explanatory variables and one or more response variables. The method was introduced by G. E. P. Box and K. B. Wilson in 1951. The main idea of RSM is to use a sequence of designed experiments to obtain an...
techniques are available to interpolate data and perform so called "virtual optimizations", particularly useful when the optimization applies to problems where every fitness function evaluation is time-expensive. Single Value DecompositionSingular value decompositionIn linear algebra, the singular value decomposition is a factorization of a real or complex matrix, with many useful applications in signal processing and statistics....
and Polynomial Responses are implemented, as well as the more sophisticated KrigingKrigingKriging is a group of geostatistical techniques to interpolate the value of a random field at an unobserved location from observations of its value at nearby locations....
, Neural NetworkNeural networkThe term neural network was traditionally used to refer to a network or circuit of biological neurons. The modern usage of the term often refers to artificial neural networks, which are composed of artificial neurons or nodes...
and Gaussian processGaussian processIn probability theory and statistics, a Gaussian process is a stochastic process whose realisations consist of random values associated with every point in a range of times such that each such random variable has a normal distribution...
ones.
Data processing and multiple criteria decision making (MCDM)
- This set of tools enables the user to explore, filter and rank the set of optimal solutions of a multi-objective problem (the so-called Pareto frontier), to perform sensitivity analyses, robustness verifications and also to produce standard and customizable reports of the optimization project (RTFRich Text FormatThe Rich Text Format is a proprietary document file format with published specification developed by Microsoft Corporation since 1987 for Microsoft products and for cross-platform document interchange....
, PDF, HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
formats).
Robust design optimization
This is the latest step of MDOMDO
MDO can mean:*Multidisciplinary design optimization, a field of engineering*Medium density overlay, a type of plywood*MDO , a Puerto Rican boy band, a spin-off from Menudo*Marine Diesel Oil, a type of fuel oil used in the maritime field...
towards 6 Sigma: optimizing a design taking into account uncertainties and tolerances. RSM
Response surface methodology
In statistics, response surface methodology explores the relationships between several explanatory variables and one or more response variables. The method was introduced by G. E. P. Box and K. B. Wilson in 1951. The main idea of RSM is to use a sequence of designed experiments to obtain an...
techniques can be used to overcome the increase in time-expense due to this extensive statistic approach.
External links
- modeFRONTIER page at ESTECO website
- Examples of modeFRONTIER's applications