• Advances in Computational Design
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.273-281
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• 2017

In this work, a comparative study of multi-objective meta-heuristics (MOMHs) for optimum design of a walking tractor handlebar is conducted in order to reduce the structural mass and increase structural static and dynamic stiffness. The design problem has objective functions as maximising structural natural frequencies, minimising structural mass, bending deflection and torsional deflection with stress constraints. The problem is classified as a many-objective optimisation since there are more than three objectives. Design variables are structural shape and size. Several well established multi-objective optimisers are employed to solve the proposed many-objective optimisation problems of the walking tractor handlebar. The results are compared whereas optimum design solutions of the walking tractor handlebar are illustrated.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.661-669
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• 2018

Engineering system problems consist of multi-objective optimisation and the performance analysis is generally time consuming. To optimise the system concerning its performance, many researchers perform the optimisation using an approximation model. The Response Surface Method (RSM) is usually used to predict the system performance in many research fields, but it shows prediction errors for highly nonlinear problems. To create an appropriate metamodel for marine systems, Lee (2015) compares the prediction accuracy of the approximation model, and multi-objective optimal design framework is proposed based on a confirmed approximation model. The proposed framework is composed of three parts: definition of geometry, generation of approximation model, and optimisation. The major objective of this paper is to confirm the applicability/usability of the proposed optimal design framework and evaluate the prediction accuracy based on sensitivity analysis. We have evaluated the proposed framework applicability in derrick structure optimisation considering its structural performance.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.389-406
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• 2014

Optimal sensor placement techniques play a significant role in enhancing the quality of modal data during the vibration based health monitoring of civil structures, where many degrees of freedom are available despite a limited number of sensors. The literature has shown a shift in the trends for solving such problems, from expansion or elimination approach to the employment of heuristic algorithms. Although these heuristic algorithms are capable of providing a global optimal solution, their greatest drawback is the requirement of high computational effort. Because a highly efficient optimisation method is crucial for better accuracy and wider use, this paper presents an improved simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to solve the sensor placement problem. The algorithm is developed based on the sensor locations' coordinate system to allow for the searching in additional dimensions and to increase SA's random search performance while minimising the computation efforts. The proposed method is tested on a numerical slab model that consists of two hundred sensor location candidates using three types of objective functions; the determinant of the Fisher information matrix (FIM), modal assurance criterion (MAC), and mean square error (MSE) of mode shapes. Detailed study on the effects of the sensor numbers and cooling factors on the performance of the algorithm are also investigated. The results indicate that the proposed method outperforms conventional SA and Genetic Algorithm (GA) in the search for optimal sensor placement.