An interface agent that actively supports CAE beginner users in performinganalyses

Roles of the computer aided engineering (CAE) software are getting mon sign ificant in manufacturing industry because detailed simulation in the early stage of design can reduce the time and cost for development. An easier use r interface and a capability of offering knowledge about the FE analysis an demanded as the main users shift from analysts to designers. This article proposes an interface agent for a CAE system. It helps beginners of the CAE software perform FE analysis quickly and correctly without support from hu man specialists. Major functions of the proposed agent include: (I) help us ers create ideas of FE analysis by showing operation flow in advance in wor ds and images; (2) plan a sequence of operations from users analysis goal a nd show it to users stepwise; and (3) record users troubleshooting experien ces and show them to the same user and other users as hints. A prototype wa s implemented on a PC based CAE system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.