• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.325-337
• /
• 2006

A hybrid structural design and optimization methodology that combines the strengths of genetic algorithms, local search techniques, and parallel computing is developed to evolve optimal truss systems in this research effort. The primary objective that is met in evolving near-optimal or optimal structural systems using this approach is the capability of satisfying user-defined design criteria while minimizing the computational time required. The application of genetic algorithms to the design and optimization of truss systems supports conceptual design by facilitating the exploration of new design alternatives. In addition, final shape optimization of the evolved designs is supported through the refinement of member sizes using local search techniques for further improvement. The use of the hybrid approach, therefore, enhances the overall process of structural design. Parallel computing is implemented to reduce the total computation time required to obtain near-optimal designs. The support of human-computer interaction during layout optimization and local optimization is also discussed since it assists in evolving optimal truss systems that better satisfy a user's design requirements and design preferences.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.216-221
• /
• 2008

Shape design optimization for linear elasticity problem is performed using isogeometric analysis method. In many design optimization problems for real engineering models, initial raw data usually comes from CAD modeler. Then designer should convert this CAD data into finite element mesh data because conventional design optimization tools are generally based on finite element analysis. During this conversion there is some numerical error due to a geometry approximation, which causes accuracy problems in not only response analysis but also design sensitivity analysis. As a remedy of this phenomenon, the isogeometric analysis method is one of the promising approaches of shape design optimization. The main idea of isogeometric analysis is that the basis functions used in analysis is exactly same as ones which represent the geometry, and this geometrically exact model can be used shape sensitivity analysis and design optimization as well. In shape design sensitivity point of view, precise shape sensitivity is very essential for gradient-based optimization. In conventional finite element based optimization, higher order information such as normal vector and curvature term is inaccurate or even missing due to the use of linear interpolation functions. On the other hands, B-spline basis functions have sufficient continuity and their derivatives are smooth enough. Therefore normal vector and curvature terms can be exactly evaluated, which eventually yields precise optimal shapes. In this article, isogeometric analysis method is utilized for the shape design optimization. By virtue of B-spline basis function, an exact geometry can be handled without finite element meshes. Moreover, initial CAD data are used throughout the optimization process, including response analysis, shape sensitivity analysis, design parameterization and shape optimization, without subsequent communication with CAD description.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.123-130
• /
• 2004

The automobile suspension system is composed of parts that affect performances of a vehicle such as ride quality, handling characteristics, straight performance and steering effort, etc. Moreover, by using the finite element analysis the cost for the initial design step can be decreased. In the design of a suspension system, usually system vibration and structural rigidity must be considered simultaneously to satisfy dynamic and static requirements simultaneously. In this paper, we consider the weight reduction and the increase of the first eigen-frequency of a suspension part, the upper control arm, especially using topology optimization and size optimization. Firstly, we obtain the initial design to maximize the first eigen-frequency using topology optimization. Then, we apply the multi-objective parameter optimization method to satisfy both the weight reduction and the increase of the first eigen-frequency. The design variables are varying during the optimization process for the multi-objective. Therefore, we can obtain the deterministic values of the design variables not only to satisfy the terms of variation limits but also to optimize the two design objectives at the same time. Finally, we have executed reliability based optimal design on the upper control arm using the Monte-Carlo method with importance sampling method for the optimal design result with 98％ reliability.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.445-462
• /
• 2014

To solve structural optimization problems, it is necessary to integrate a structural analysis package and an optimization package. There have been many packages that can be employed to analyze reinforced concrete plane frames. However, because most structural analysis packages suffer from closeness of systems, it is very difficult to integrate them with optimization packages. To overcome the difficulty, we proposed a possible alternative, DAMDO, which integrates Design, Analysis, Modeling, Definition, and Optimization phases into an integration environment as follows. (1) Design: first generate many possible structural design alternatives. Each design alternative consists of many design variables X. (2) Analysis: employ the structural analysis software to analyze all structural design alternatives to obtain their internal forces and displacements. They are the response variables Y. (3) Modeling: employ artificial neural networks to build the models Y=f(X) to obtain the relationship functions between the design variables X and the response variables Y. (4) Definition: employ the design variables X and the response variables Y to define the objective function and constraint functions. (5) Optimization: employ the optimization software to solve the optimization problem consisting of the objective function and the constraint functions to produce the optimum design variables. The RC frame optimization problem was examined to evaluate the DAMDO approach, and the empirical results showed that it can be solved by the approach.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.34-40
• /
• 2004

Recently with growth in the capability of super computers and Parallel computers, shape design optimization is becoming easible for real problems. Also, Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) techniques have been improved for higher reliability and higher accuracy. In the shape design optimization, analysis solvers and optimization schemes are essential. In this work, the Roe's 2nd-order Upwind TVD scheme and DADI time march with multigrid were used for the flow solution with the Euler equation and FDM(Finite Differenciation Method), GA(Genetic Algorithm) and Kriging were used for the design optimization. Kriging were applied to 2-D airfoil design optimization and compared with FDM and GA's results. When Kriging is applied to the nonlinear problems, satisfactory results were obtained. From the result design optimization by Kriging method appeared as good as other methods.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.520-525
• /
• 2024

The optimization design problem of nuclear reactor radiation shield is a typical multi-objective optimization problem with almost 10 sub-objectives and the sub-objectives are always demanded to be under tolerable limits. In this paper, a design method combining multi-objective optimization algorithms with paralleling discrete ordinate transportation code is developed and applied to shield design of the Savannah nuclear reactor. Three approaches are studied for light-weighted and compact design of radiation shield. Comparing with directly optimization with 10 objectives and the single-objective optimization, the approach by setting sub-objectives representing weight and volume as optimization objectives while treating other sub-objectives as constraints has the best performance, which is more suitable to reactor shield design.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.04a
• /
• pp.187-190
• /
• 2005

In this study, the reliablility based design optimization is peformed for an aircraft wing. The flexiblility of the wing was assumed by considering the interaction modeled by static aeroelasticity between aerodynamic forces and the structure. For a multidisciplinary design optimization the results of aerodynamic analysis and structural analysis were included in the optimization formulation. The First Order Reliability Method(FORM) was employed to consider the uncertainty of the designed points.

• Architectural research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2012

The technique of integrated design optimization is proposed to design spatial structures. Various element technologies such as topology optimization, layout editing and size optimization processes are used in an integrated manner to improve the performance of spatial structures. In order to demonstrate the present technique, a unit spatial structure is optimized and numerical results are described here.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.1121-1137
• /
• 2015

High powered computers and engineering computer systems allow designers to routinely simulate complex physical phenomena. The presented work deals with the analysis of two finite element method optimization techniques (First Order Method-FOM and Subproblem Approximation Method-SAM) implemented in the individual Design Optimization module in the Ansys software to analyze the behavior of real problems. A design optimization is a difficult mathematical process, intended to find the minimum or maximum of an objective function, which is mostly based on iterative procedure. Using optimization techniques in engineering designs requires detailed knowledge of the analyzed problem but also an ability to select the appropriate optimization method. The methods embedded in advanced computer software are based on different optimization techniques and their efficiency is significantly influenced by the specific character of a problem. The efficiency, robustness and accuracy of the methods are studied through strictly convex two-dimensional optimization problem, which is represented by volume minimization of two bars' plane frame structure subjected to maximal vertical displacement limit. Advantages and disadvantages of the methods are described and some practical tips provided which could be beneficial in any efficient engineering design by using an optimization method.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.22 no.3 s.168
• /
• pp.146-153
• /
• 2005

In this paper, a multi-step optimization using genetic algorithm with variable penalty function is introduced to the structural design optimization of a grinding machine. The design problem, in this study, is to find out the optimum configuration and dimensions of structural members which minimize the static compliance, the dynamic compliance, and the weight of the machine structure simultaneously under several design constraints such as dimensional constraints, maximum deflection limit, safety criterion, and maximum vibration amplitude limit. The first step is shape optimization, in which the best structural configuration is found by getting rid of structural members that have no contributions to the design objectives from the given initial design configuration. The second and third steps are sizing optimization. The second design step gives a set of good design solutions having higher fitness for lightweight and minimum static compliance. Finally the best solution, which has minimum dynamic compliance and weight, is extracted from the good solution set. The proposed design optimization method was successfully applied to the structural design optimization of a grinding machine. After optimization, both static and dynamic compliances are reduced more than 58.4% compared with the initial design, which was designed empirically by experienced engineers. Moreover the weight of the optimized structure are also slightly reduced than before.