Abstract
A distributed computing middleware named EnGrid is developed to obtain the large computing power from the idling personal computers (PCs) in office environments. Transmission control protocol (TCP) is used for the communication among EnGrid, client program, main job, and sub job. The EnGrid does not request a central server and can be easily installed at office environments. The problem solving environment, whose subsystems are parameter sweep system and parameter optimization system, is developed for determining the parameter for finite element method (FEM). The developed technique was found to be useful when applying it to the analysis of an excavation problem involving retaining wall, using the 2-dimensional civil engineering FEM.
