The main objectives of the project have been reached. A running prototype of an open software package is now available for managing optimisation processes including foreign software for shape parameterisation and analysis. This includes geometry processing tools (SAMCEF/Bacon, PRO/Engineer) and mesh perturbator for SAMCEF/Bacon. Several new optimisation algorithms have also been developed to match a number of users requests, and can be used within the optimisation procedure. This has been successfully applied to hydrodynamic analysis in two fields: ship wave resistance and floating bodies seakeeping, on the basis of existing CFD codes. In aeronautics, computational tools have been developed, aiming at a quick construction of a two-dimensional aerofoil performance results database, to be used in a global direct operating costs optimisation process. A validation task, including multi-model optimisation, was also performed.
Industrial shape design in the fields of structural and fluid mechanics,which need high level computing,ordinary uses direct analysis codes to validate the design shapes. Only in the structural computation domain inverse processes begin to be widely used. It is proposed to develop a tool which will apply the techniques used in structural optimization to other fields,especially aeronautics and hydrodynamics,taking into account manufacturing constraints,and which will be able to solve coupled structural/fluid/manufacturing problems. The industrial objectives are the reduction of time and cost of design work,and the improvement of the final product obtained by this way.

The work will be handled by european experts in software development and structural computation, specialist of aeronautics and hydrodynamics applications, and the theoretical support will be assumed by universities. A three years long project is proposed,divided into five main interdependent workpackages:

- general tool specifications, design and development

- shape processing study and development

- fluid optimization problems definition and sensitivity analysis

- theoretical research to define best adapted method and design new specific methods

- test and validation of the final tool.

The final aim is to produce a powerful and opened software immediately usable for present problems,able to accept applications in new areas in the future,and subject to short term marketing.