• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.205-220
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• 2014

This paper is concerned with the modification of multidisciplinary feasible formulation for MDO problems using the integrated coupled approximate models. A drawback of conventional MDFs is the numerical difficulty in decomposing the design variables and deriving the coupled equations of state. To overcome such a drawback of conventional methods, the coupling in analysis and design is resolved by approximating the state variables in each discipline by the response surface method and by modifying the optimization formulation using the corresponding integrated coupled approximate models. The validity, reliability and effectiveness of the proposed method are illustrated and verified through two optimization problems, a mathematical MDF problem and the multidisciplinary optimum design of suspension unit of wheeled armored vehicle.