• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.55-62
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• 2005

In this paper, a CAB/CAE integrated optimal design system is developed, in which design and analysis process is automated using CAD/CAE softwares, for a complicated model for which parametric modeling provided by CAD software is not possible. CAD modeling process is automated by using UG/OPEN API function and UG/Knowledge Fusion provided by Unigraphics. The generated model is transferred to the analysis code ANSYS in parasolid format. Visual DOC software is used for optimization. The system is developed for PLS(Plasma Lighting System), which is a next generation illumination system that is used to illuminate stadium or outdoor advertizing panel. The PLS system consists of more then 20 components, which requires a lot of human efforts in modeling and analysis. The analysis for PLS includes static load, wind load and impact load analysis. As a result of analysis, it is found that the most critical component is a tilt assembly, which links lower & upper body assembly. For more reliable analysis, experiment is conducted using MTS and compared with the Finite element analysis result. The objective in the optimization is to minimize the material volume under allowable stresses. The design variables are three parameters in the tilt assembly that are chosen to be the most sensitive in stress values of twelve parameters. Gradient based method and RSM(Response Surface Method) are used for the algorithm and the results are compared. As a result of optimization, the maximum stress is reduced by 57%.