• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.142-156
• /
• 2015

A new method for ship Inner Shell optimization, which is called Parametric Inner Shell Optimization Method (PISOM), is presented in this paper in order to improve both hull performance and design efficiency of transport ship. The foundation of PISOM is the parametric Inner Shell Plate (ISP) model, which is a fully-associative model driven by dimensions. A method to create parametric ISP model is proposed, including geometric primitives, geometric constraints, geometric constraint solving etc. The standard optimization procedure of ship ISP optimization based on parametric ISP model is put forward, and an efficient optimization approach for typical transport ship is developed based on this procedure. This approach takes the section area of ISP and the other dominant parameters as variables, while all the design requirements such as propeller immersion, fore bottom wave slap, bridge visibility, longitudinal strength etc, are made constraints. The optimization objective is maximum volume of cargo oil tanker/cargo hold, and the genetic algorithm is used to solve this optimization model. This method is applied to the optimization of a product oil tanker and a bulk carrier, and it is proved to be effective, highly efficient, and engineering practical.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.76 no.6
• /
• pp.799-821
• /
• 2020

The optimum design of truss structures is one of the significant categories in structural optimization that has widely been applied by researchers. In the present study, new mathematical programming called Consistent Approximation (CONAP) method is utilized for the simultaneous optimization of the size and shape of truss structures. The CONAP algorithm has already been introduced to optimize some structures and functions. In the CONAP algorithm, some important parameters are designed by employing design sensitivities to enhance the capability of the method and its consistency in various optimum design problems, especially structural optimization. The cross-sectional area of the bar elements and the nodal coordinates of the truss are assumed to be the size and shape design variables, respectively. The displacement, allowable stress and the Euler buckling stress are taken as the design constraints for the problem. In the proposed method, the primary optimization problem is replaced with a sequence of explicit sub-problems. Each sub-problem is efficiently solved using the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm. Several truss structures are designed by employing the CONAP method to illustrate the efficiency of the algorithm for simultaneous shape and size optimization. The optimal solutions are compared with some of the mathematical programming algorithms, the approximation methods and metaheuristic algorithms those reported in the literature. Results demonstrate that the accuracy of the optimization is improved and the convergence rate speeds up.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.409-416
• /
• 2009

The structural design problems are acknowledged to be commonly multi-criteria in nature. The various multi-criteria optimization methods are reviewed and the most efficient and easy-to-use Pareto optimal solution methods are applied to structural optimization of a truss and a beam. The result of the study shows that Pareto optimal solution methods can easily be applied to structural optimization with multiple objectives, and the designer can have a choice from those Pareto optimal solutions to meet an appropriate design environment.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.527-536
• /
• 2020

The paper represents an optimization algorithm for reinforced concrete retaining wall design. The proposed method, called Rao-3 optimization algorithm, is a recently developed algorithm. The total weight of the steel and concrete, which are used for constructing the retaining wall, were chosen as the objective function. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-05) and Rankine's theory for lateral earth pressure were considered for structural and geotechnical design, respectively. Number of the design variables are 12. Eight of those express the geometrical dimensions of the wall and four of those express the steel reinforcement of the wall. The safety against overturning, sliding and bearing capacity failure were regarded as the geotechnical constraints. The safety against bending and shear failure, minimum and maximum areas of reinforcement, development lengths of steel reinforcement were regarded as structural constraints. The performance of proposed algorithm was evaluated with two design examples.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.62 no.5
• /
• pp.537-550
• /
• 2017

Structural sizing is a rewarding task due to its non-convex constrained nature in the design space. In order to provide both global exploration and proper search refinement, a hybrid method is developed here based on outstanding features of Evolutionary Computing and Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization. The new method introduces an observer phase for memory exploitation in addition to vector-sum movements in the original teacher and learner phases. Proper integer coding is suited and applied for structural size optimization together with a fly-to-boundary technique and an elitism strategy. Performance of the proposed method is further evaluated treating a number of truss examples compared with teaching-learning-based optimization. The results show enhanced capability of the method in efficient and stable convergence toward the optimum and effective capturing of high quality solutions in discrete structural sizing problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.71 no.3
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2019

In global competition manufacturing companies have to produce modern, new constructions from advanced materials in order to increase competitiveness. The aim of my research was to develop a new composite cellular plate structure, which can be primarily used for structural elements of road, rail, water and air transport vehicles (e.g. vehicle bodies, ship floors). The new structure is novel and innovative, because all materials of the components of the newly developed structure are composites (laminated Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) deck plates with pultruded Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) stiffeners), furthermore combines the characteristics of sandwich and cellular plate structures. The material of the structure is much more advantageous than traditional steel materials, due mainly to its low density, resulting in weight savings, causing lower fuel consumption and less environmental damage. In the study the optimal construction of a given geometry of a structural element of a road truck trailer body was defined by single- and multi-objective optimization (minimal cost and weight). During the single-objective optimization the Flexible Tolerance Optimization method, while during the multi-objective optimization the Particle Swarm Optimization method were used. Seven design constraints were considered: maximum deflection of the structure, buckling of the composite plates, buckling of the stiffeners, stress in the composite plates, stress in the stiffeners, eigenfrequency of the structure, size constraint for design variables. It was confirmed that the developed structure can be used principally as structural elements of transport vehicles and unit load devices (containers) and can be applied also in building construction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.45-58
• /
• 2017

This paper presents the application of topology optimization as a design tool for a steel railway bridge. The choice of a steel railway bridge is dictated by the particular situation that it is suitable for topology optimization design. On the one hand, the current manufacturing techniques for steel structures (additive manufacturing techniques not included) are highly appropriate for material optimization and weight reduction to improve the overall structural efficiency, improve production efficiency, and reduce costs. On the other hand, the design of a railway bridge, especially at higher speeds, is dominated by minimizing the deformations, this being the basic principle of compliance optimization. However, a classical strategy of topology optimization considers typically only one or a very limited number of load cases, while the design of a steel railway bridge is characterized by relatively concentrated convoy loads, which may be present or absent at any location of the structure. The paper demonstrates the applicability of considering multiple load configurations during topology optimization and proves that a different and better optimal layout is obtained than the one from the classical strategy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.68-78
• /
• 2003

Recently, low speed vehicle (LSV) is beginning to appear for various usages. The body of the LSV is usually made of the aluminum space frame (ASF) type rather than the monocoque or unitary construction type. A pa.1 of the reason is that it is easier to reduce mass efficiently while the required stiffness and strength are maintained. A design flow for LSV is proposed. Design specifications for structural performances of LSV do not exist yet. Therefore, they are defined through a comparative study with general passenger automobiles. An optimization problem is formulated by the defined specifications. At first, one pillar which has an important role in structural performances is selected and the reinforcements of the pillar are determined from topology optimization to maximize the stiffness. At second, the thicknesses of cross sections are determined to minimize the mass of the body while design specifications are satisfied. The optimum solution is compared with an existing design. The optimization process has been performed using a commercial optimization software system, GENESIS 7.0.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2006.04a
• /
• pp.828-835
• /
• 2006

Spacer grid springs support the fuel rods in a nuclear fuel system. The spacer grid is a part of a fuel assembly. Since a spring has repeated contacts with the fuel rod, fretting wear occurs on the surface of the spring. Design is usually performed to reduce the wear. The conceptual design process for the spring is defined by using the Independence of axiomatic design and the design is carried out based on the direction that the design matrix indicates. For detailed design an optimization problem is formulated. In optimization, homologous design is employed to reduce fretting wear. The deformation of a structure is called homologous if a given geometrical relationship holds for a given number of structural points before, during, and after the deformation. In this case, the deformed shape of the spring should be the same as that of the fuel rod. 1bis condition is transformed to a function and considered as a constraint in the optimization process. The objective function is minimizing the maximum stress to allow a local plastic deformation. Optimization results show that the contact occurs in a wide range. Also, the results are verified by nonlinear finite element analysis.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 2002

Structural optimization using improved higer-order convex approximation is proposed in this paper. The proposed method is a generalization of the convex approximation method. The order of the approximation function for each constraint is automatically adjusted in the optimization process. And also the order of each design variable is differently adjusted. This self-adjusted capability makes the approximate constraint values conservative enough to maintain the optimum design point of the approximate problem in feasible region. The efficiency of proposed algorithm, compared with conventional algorithm is successfully demonstrated in the Three-bar Truss example.