Structural design optimization

Guest Editorial, Special Issue on Structural Design Optimization, Advances in Structural Engineering, An International Journal, 2007, Vol. 10, No.6

Reliability Based Design Optimization of Concrete Mix Proportions Using Generalized Ridge Regression Model

This paper presents Reliability Based Design Optimization (RBDO) model to deal with uncertainties involved in concrete mix design process. The optimization problem is formulated in such a way that probabilistic concrete mix input parameters showing random characteristics are determined by minimizing the cost of concrete subjected to concrete compressive strength constraint for a given target reliability. Linear and quadratic models based on Ordinary Least Square Regression (OLSR), Traditional Ridge Regression (TRR) and Generalized Ridge Regression (GRR) techniques have been explored to select the best model to explicitly represent compressive strength of concrete. The RBDO model is solved by Sequential Optimization and Reliability Assessment (SORA) method using fully quadratic GRR model. Optimization results for a wide range of target compressive strength and reliability levels of 0.90, 0.95 and 0.99 have been reported. Also, safety factor based Deterministic Design Optimization (DDO) designs for each case are obtained. It has been observed that deterministic optimal designs are cost effective but proposed RBDO model gives improved design performance

Conceptual design optimization study

The feasibility of applying multilevel functional decomposition and optimization techniques to conceptual design of advanced fighter aircraft was investigated. Applying the functional decomposition techniques to the conceptual design phase appears to be feasible. The initial implementation of the modified design process will optimize wing design variables. A hybrid approach, combining functional decomposition techniques for generation of aerodynamic and mass properties linear sensitivity derivatives with existing techniques for sizing mission performance and optimization, is proposed

Discrete Design Optimization of Small Open Type Dry Transformers

Transformers of small ratings have a wide field of application. They are generally designed and fabricated using standard stampings available in the market. The design is made according to guidelines given in text-books. But such guidelines do not yield a cost-optimal solution. It may even fail to give a feasible solution if design variables are not properly chosen. This paper presents a method to get the cost-optimal solution subject to usual design constraints. The line of approach is completely different from that given in the standard text-books. Computer programs have been developed for finding out the cost-optimal design using standard stampings and case studies have been made on its basis

Learning-based ship design optimization approach

With the development of computer applications in ship design, optimization, as a powerful approach, has been widely used in the design and analysis process. However, the running time, which often varies from several weeks to months in the current computing environment, has been a bottleneck problem for optimization applications, particularly in the structural design of ships. To speed up the optimization process and adjust the complex design environment, ship designers usually rely on their personal experience to assist the design work. However, traditional experience, which largely depends on the designer’s personal skills, often makes the design quality very sensitive to the experience and decreases the robustness of the final design. This paper proposes a new machine-learning-based ship design optimization approach, which uses machine learning as an effective tool to give direction to optimization and improves the adaptability of optimization to the dynamic design environment. The natural human learning process is introduced into the optimization procedure to improve the efficiency of the algorithm. Q-learning, as an approach of reinforcement learning, is utilized to realize the learning function in the optimization process. The multi-objective particle swarm optimization method, multiagent system, and CAE software are used to build an integrated optimization system. A bulk carrier structural design optimization was performed as a case study to evaluate the suitability of this method for real-world application

Casting Design Optimization for Steam Turbine Emergency Stop Valve (ESV) Housing with Computational Casting Simulation Method

Design optimization casting emergency stop valve steam turbine, has been done with casting simulation using Magmasoft v5 software. By simulation, some casting design parameters are changed to get more optimal results. Optimization of the design of castings in this study, obtained by improving the design through changes in pouring system using bottom pouring and optimization of riser design. The result of four design casting simulation ESV housing versus filling velocity, solidification, and porosity have the same trend of location defect that is in the flange and middle body valve connection area. However quality of the simulation results, in design # 4 has a better quality of casting results based on the color gradation seen in the range of 80-90%. Although, there is still a potential defect in critical areas that have low castability. This results can be used as input for the further casting improvement and NDT inspector guidance

Design optimization applied in structural dynamics

This paper introduces the design optimization strategies, especially for structures which have dynamic constraints. Design optimization involves first the modeling and then the optimization of the problem. Utilizing the Finite Element (FE) model of a structure directly in an optimization process requires a long computation time. Therefore the Backpropagation Neural Networks (NNs) are introduced as a so called surrogate model for the FE model. Optimization techniques mentioned in this study cover the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods. For the applications of the introduced techniques, a multisegment cantilever beam problem under the constraints of its first and second natural frequency has been selected and solved using four different approaches

Design optimization of transonic airfoils

Numerical optimization procedures were considered for the design of airfoils in transonic flow based on the transonic small disturbance (TSD) and Euler equations. A sequential approximation optimization technique was implemented with an accurate approximation of the wave drag based on the Nixon's coordinate straining approach. A modification of the Euler surface boundary conditions was implemented in order to efficiently compute design sensitivities without remeshing the grid. Two effective design procedures producing converged designs in approximately 10 global iterations were developed: interchanging the role of the objective function and constraint and the direct lift maximization with move limits which were fixed absolute values of the design variables

Spin bearing retainer design optimization

The dynamics behavior of spin bearings for momentum wheels (control-moment gyroscope, reaction wheel assembly) is critical to satellite stability and life. Repeated bearing retainer instabilities hasten lubricant deterioration and can lead to premature bearing failure and/or unacceptable vibration. These instabilities are typically distinguished by increases in torque, temperature, audible noise, and vibration induced by increases into the bearing cartridge. Ball retainer design can be optimized to minimize these occurrences. A retainer was designed using a previously successful smaller retainer as an example. Analytical methods were then employed to predict its behavior and optimize its configuration

EXOhSPEC folded design optimization and performance estimation

The EXOplanet high resolution SPECtrograph (EXOhSPEC) instrument is an echelle spectrograph dedicated to the detection of exoplanets by using the radial velocity method using 2m class telescopes. This spectrograph is specified to provide spectra with a spectral resolution R < 70, 000 over the spectral range from 400 to 700 nm and to reach a shortterm radial velocity precision of 3 m/s. To achieve this the separation between two adjacent spectral orders is specified to be greater than 30 pixels and to enable a wide range of targets the throughput of the instrument is specified to be higher than 4%. We present the results of the optimization of the spectrograph collimator performed and initial tests of its optical performance. First, we consider the spectrograph design and we estimate its theoretical performance. We show that the theoretical image quality is close to the diffraction limit. Second, we describe the method used to perform the tolerancing analyzes using ZEMAX software to estimate the optical performance of the instrument after manufacturing, assembly and alignment. We present the results of the performance budget and we show that the estimated image quality performance of EXOhSPEC are in line with the specifications. Third, we present the results of the stray light analysis and we show that the minimum ratio between the scientific signal and the stray light halo signal is higher than 1,000. Finally, we provide a status on the progress of the EXOhSPEC project and we show the first results obtained with a preliminary version of the prototype.Final Accepted Versio