• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.407-417
• /
• 2003

Enen though several GA-based optimization algorithms have been successfully applied to complex optimization problems in various engineering fields, GA-based optimization methods are computationally too expensive for practical use in the field of structural optimization, particularly for large- scale problems. Furthermore, a successful implementation of GA-based optimization algorithm requires a cumbersome and trial-and-error routine related to setting of parameters dependent on a optimization problem. Therefore, to overcome these disadvantages, a high-performance GA is developed in the form of distributed hybrid genetic algorithm for structural optimization on a cluster of personal computers. The distributed hybrid genetic algorithm proposed in this paper consist of a simple GA running on a master computer and multiple μ-GAs running on slave computers. The algorithm is implemented on a PC cluster and applied to the minimum weight design of steel structures. The results show that the computational time required for structural optimization process can be drastically reduced and the dependency on the parameters can be avoided.

• 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.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.5 no.5
• /
• pp.609-624
• /
• 1997

The optimization of cutouts in composite plates was investigated by implementing a procedure known as Evolutionary Structural Optimization. Perforations were introduced into a finite element mesh of the plate from which one or more cutouts of a predetermined size were evolved. In the examples presented, plates were rejected from around each evolving cutout based on a predefined rejection criterion. The limiting ply within each plate element around the cutout was determined based on the Tsai-Hill failure criterion. Finite element plates with values below the product of the average Tsai-Hill number and a rejection criterion were subsequently removed. This process was iterated until a steady state was reached and the rejection criterion was then incremented by an evolutionary rate and the above steps repeated until the desired cutout area was achieved. Various plates with differing lay-up and loading parameters were investigated to demonstrate the generality and robustness of this optimization procedure.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.1156-1161
• /
• 2008

Nonlinear dynamic analysis is generally used in automobile crash analysis and structural optimization considering crashworthiness uses the results of nonlinear dynamic analysis. Automobile crash optimization has high nonlinearity and difficulty in calculating sensitivity. Recently the equivalent static load (ESL) method has been proposed in order to overcome these difficulties. The ESL is the static load set generating the same displacement field as the nonlinear dynamic displacement field at each time step in dynamic analysis. From various researches regarding the ESL method, it has been proved that the ESL method is fairly useful. The ESL method can mathematically optimize a crash optimization problem through nonlinear analysis and well developed static optimization. The ESL is applied to nonlinear dynamic structural optimization of the automobile frontal impact problem. An automobile bumper is optimized. The mass of the structure is minimized while some constraints are satisfied.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2006.04a
• /
• pp.291-298
• /
• 2006

A parallelized topology design optimization method is developed on a distributed memory system. The parallelization is based on a domain decomposition method and a boundary communication scheme. For the finite element analysis of structural responses and design sensitivities, the PCG method based on a Krylov iterative scheme is employed. Also a parallelized optimization method of optimality criteria is used to solve large-scale topology optimization problems. Through several numerical examples, the developed method shows efficient and acceptable topology optimization results for the large-scale problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.75 no.4
• /
• pp.445-454
• /
• 2020

Structural damage identification (SDI) is a crucial step in structural health monitoring. However, some of the existing SDI methods cannot provide enough identification accuracy and efficiency in practice. A novel whale optimization algorithm (WOA) based method is proposed for SDI by weighting modal data and flexibility assurance criterion in this study. At first, the SDI problem is mathematically converted into a constrained optimization problem. Unlike traditional objective function defined using frequencies and mode shapes, a new objective function on the SDI problem is formulated by weighting both modal data and flexibility assurance criterion. Then, the WOA method, due to its good performance of fast convergence and global searching ability, is adopted to provide an accurate solution to the SDI problem, different predator mechanisms are formulated and their probability thresholds are selected. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is assessed by numerical simulations on a simply-supported beam and a 31-bar truss structures. For the given multiple structural damage conditions under environmental noises, the WOA-based SDI method can effectively locate structural damages and accurately estimate severities of damages. Compared with other optimization methods, such as particle swarm optimization and dragonfly algorithm, the proposed WOA-based method outperforms in accuracy and efficiency, which can provide a more effective and potential tool for the SDI problem.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.833-845
• /
• 2015

Natural frequencies of the structural systems should be far away from the excitation frequency in order to avoid or reduce the destructive effects of dynamic loads on structures. To accomplish this goal, a structural optimization on size and shape has been performed considering frequency constraints. Such an optimization problem has highly nonlinear property. Thus, the quality of the solution is not independent of the optimization technique to be applied. This study presents the performance evaluation of the recently proposed meta-heuristic algorithm called Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) as an optimization engine in the weight optimization of the truss structures under frequency constraints. Some examples regarding the optimization of trusses on shape and size with frequency constraints are solved. Also, the results obtained are tabulated for comparison. The results demonstrated that the performance of the TLBO is satisfactory. Additionally, TLBO is better than other methods in some cases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.813-833
• /
• 2015

Spherical reticulated shells are widely applied in structural engineering due to their good bearing capability and attractive appearance. Parametric modeling of spherical reticulated shells is the basis of internal analysis and optimization design. In the present study, generation methods of nodes and the corresponding connection methods of rod elements are proposed. Modeling programs are compiled by adopting the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). A shape optimization method based on the two-stage algorithm is presented, and the corresponding optimization program is compiled in FORTRAN environment. Shape optimization is carried out based on the objective function of the minimum total steel consumption and the restriction condition of strength, stiffness, slenderness ratio, stability. The shape optimization of four typical Schwedler spherical reticulated shells is calculated with the span of 30 m~80 m and rise to span ratio of 1/7~1/2. Compared with the shape optimization results, the variation rules of total steel consumption along with the span and rise to span ratio are discussed. The results show that: (1) The left and right rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is the most optimized and should be preferentially adopted in structural engineering. (2) The left diagonal rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is second only to left and right rod regarding the mechanical behavior and optimized results. It can be applied to medium and small-span structures. (3) Double slash rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is advantageous in mechanical behavior but with the largest total weight. Thus, this type can be used in large-span structures as far as possible. (4) The mechanical performance of no latitudinal rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is the worst and with the second largest weight. Thus, this spherical reticulated shell should not be adopted generally in engineering.

• 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.52 no.1
• /
• pp.19-33
• /
• 2014

Structural robustness refers to the ability of a structure to avoid disproportionate consequences to the original cause. Currently attentions focus on the concepts of structural robustness, and discussions on methods of robustness based structural design are rare. Firstly, taking basis in robust $H_{\infty}$ control theory, structural robustness is assessed by $H_{\infty}$ norm of the system transfer function. Then using the SIMP material model, robustness based design of grid structures is formulated as a continuum topology optimization problem, where the relative density of each element and structural robustness are considered as the design variable and the optimization objective respectively. Generalized elitist genetic algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. As examples, robustness configurations of plane stress model and the rectangular hyperbolic shell model were obtained by robustness based structural design. Finally, two models of single-layer grid structures were designed by conventional and robustness based method respectively. Different interference scenarios were simulated by static and impact experiments, and robustness of the models were analyzed and compared. The results show that the $H_{\infty}$ structural robustness index can indicate whether the structural response is proportional to the original cause. Robustness based structural design improves structural robustness effectively, and it can provide a conceptual design in the initial stage of structural design.