An Ensemble Surrogate-Based Framework for Expensive Multiobjective Evolutionary Optimization

Surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms (SAEAs) have become very popular for tackling computationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems (EMOPs), as the surrogate models in SAEAs can approximate EMOPs well, thereby reducing the time cost of the optimization process. However, with the increased number of decision variables in EMOPs, the prediction accuracy of surrogate models will deteriorate, which inevitably worsens the performance of SAEAs. To deal with this issue, this article suggests an ensemble surrogate-based framework for tackling EMOPs. In this framework, a global surrogate model is trained under the entire search space to explore the global area, while a number of surrogate submodels are trained under different search subspaces to exploit the subarea, so as to enhance the prediction accuracy and reliability. Moreover, a new infill sampling criterion is designed based on a set of reference vectors to select promising samples for training the models. To validate the generality and effectiveness of our framework, three state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms [nondominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III), multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition with differential evolution (MOEA/D-DE) and reference vector-guided evolutionary algorithm (RVEA)] are embedded, which significantly improve their performance for solving most of the test EMOPs adopted in this article. When compared to some competitive SAEAs for solving EMOPs with up to 30 decision variables, the experimental results also validate the advantages of our approach in most cases

Surrogate-Assisted Unified Optimization Framework for Investigating Marine Structural Design Under Information Uncertainty.

Structural decisions made in the early stages of marine systems design can have a large impact on future acquisition, maintenance and life-cycle costs. However, owing to the unique nature of early stage marine system design, these critical structure decisions are often made on the basis of incomplete information or knowledge about the design. When coupled with design optimization analysis, the complex, uncertain early stage design environment makes it very difficult to deliver a quantified trade-off analysis for decision making. This work presents a novel decision support method that integrates design optimization, high-fidelity analysis, and modeling of information uncertainty for early stage design and analysis. To support this method this dissertation improves the design optimization methods for marine structures by proposing several novel surrogate modeling techniques and strategies. The proposed work treats the uncertainties that are sourced from limited information in a non-statistical interval uncertainty form. This interval uncertainty is treated as an objective function in an optimization framework in order to explore the impact of information uncertainty on structural design performance. In this examination, the potential structural weight penalty regarding information uncertainty can be quickly identified in early stage, avoiding costly redesign later in the design. This dissertation then continues to explore a balanced computational structure between fidelity and efficiency. A proposed novel variable fidelity approach can be applied to wisely allocate expensive high-fidelity computational simulations. In achieving the proposed capabilities for design optimization, several surrogate modeling methods are developed concerning worst-case estimation, clustered multiple meta-modeling, and mixed variable modeling techniques. These surrogate methods have been demonstrated to significantly improve the efficiency of optimizer in dealing with the challenges of early stage marine structure design.PhDNaval Architecture and Marine EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133365/1/yanliuch_1.pd

Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization 2020

This book was established after the 8th International Workshop on Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization (NEO), representing a collection of papers on the intersection of the two research areas covered at this workshop: numerical optimization and evolutionary search techniques. While focusing on the design of fast and reliable methods lying across these two paradigms, the resulting techniques are strongly applicable to a broad class of real-world problems, such as pattern recognition, routing, energy, lines of production, prediction, and modeling, among others. This volume is intended to serve as a useful reference for mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists to explore current issues and solutions emerging from these mathematical and computational methods and their applications