Optimización del diseño estructural de pavimentos asfálticos para calles y carreteras

gráficos, tablasThe construction of asphalt pavements in streets and highways is an activity that requires optimizing the consumption of significant economic and natural resources. Pavement design optimization meets contradictory objectives according to the availability of resources and users’ needs. This dissertation explores the application of metaheuristics to optimize the design of asphalt pavements using an incremental design based on the prediction of damage and vehicle operating costs (VOC). The costs are proportional to energy and resource consumption and polluting emissions. The evolution of asphalt pavement design and metaheuristic optimization techniques on this topic were reviewed. Four computer programs were developed: (1) UNLEA, a program for the structural analysis of multilayer systems. (2) PSO-UNLEA, a program that uses particle swarm optimization metaheuristic (PSO) for the backcalculation of pavement moduli. (3) UNPAVE, an incremental pavement design program based on the equations of the North American MEPDG and includes the computation of vehicle operating costs based on IRI. (4) PSO-PAVE, a PSO program to search for thicknesses that optimize the design considering construction and vehicle operating costs. The case studies show that the backcalculation and structural design of pavements can be optimized by PSO considering restrictions in the thickness and the selection of materials. Future developments should reduce the computational cost and calibrate the pavement performance and VOC models. (Texto tomado de la fuente)La construcción de pavimentos asfálticos en calles y carreteras es una actividad que requiere la optimización del consumo de cuantiosos recursos económicos y naturales. La optimización del diseño de pavimentos atiende objetivos contradictorios de acuerdo con la disponibilidad de recursos y las necesidades de los usuarios. Este trabajo explora el empleo de metaheurísticas para optimizar el diseño de pavimentos asfálticos empleando el diseño incremental basado en la predicción del deterioro y los costos de operación vehicular (COV). Los costos son proporcionales al consumo energético y de recursos y las emisiones contaminantes. Se revisó la evolución del diseño de pavimentos asfálticos y el desarrollo de técnicas metaheurísticas de optimización en este tema. Se desarrollaron cuatro programas de computador: (1) UNLEA, programa para el análisis estructural de sistemas multicapa. (2) PSO-UNLEA, programa que emplea la metaheurística de optimización con enjambre de partículas (PSO) para el cálculo inverso de módulos de pavimentos. (3) UNPAVE, programa de diseño incremental de pavimentos basado en las ecuaciones de la MEPDG norteamericana, y el cálculo de costos de construcción y operación vehicular basados en el IRI. (4) PSO-PAVE, programa que emplea la PSO en la búsqueda de espesores que permitan optimizar el diseño considerando los costos de construcción y de operación vehicular. Los estudios de caso muestran que el cálculo inverso y el diseño estructural de pavimentos pueden optimizarse mediante PSO considerando restricciones en los espesores y la selección de materiales. Los desarrollos futuros deben enfocarse en reducir el costo computacional y calibrar los modelos de deterioro y COV.DoctoradoDoctor en Ingeniería - Ingeniería AutomáticaDiseño incremental de pavimentosEléctrica, Electrónica, Automatización Y Telecomunicacione

SOLID-SHELL FINITE ELEMENT MODELS FOR EXPLICIT SIMULATIONS OF CRACK PROPAGATION IN THIN STRUCTURES

Crack propagation in thin shell structures due to cutting is conveniently simulated using explicit finite element approaches, in view of the high nonlinearity of the problem. Solidshell elements are usually preferred for the discretization in the presence of complex material behavior and degradation phenomena such as delamination, since they allow for a correct representation of the thickness geometry. However, in solid-shell elements the small thickness leads to a very high maximum eigenfrequency, which imply very small stable time-steps. A new selective mass scaling technique is proposed to increase the time-step size without affecting accuracy. New ”directional” cohesive interface elements are used in conjunction with selective mass scaling to account for the interaction with a sharp blade in cutting processes of thin ductile shells

Deterministic and probabilistic-based model updating of aging steel bridges

Numerical modeling is a very useful tool in different fields of bridge engineering, such as load-carrying capacity assessment or structural health monitoring. Developing a reliable computational model that accurately represents the actual bridge mechanical behavior entails advanced FEM-based modeling complemented by a comprehensive experimental campaign that provides the necessary supporting information and allows validating simulation outcomes. This paper proposes a unified approach aimed at the experimental characterization and FE model updating of aging steel bridges. It first involves the realization of an extensive experimental campaign aimed at the bridge's geometrical, material, and dynamic behavior characterization. Then, a model calibration framework is developed, where deterministic (optimization) and probabilistic (Bayesian inference) approaches are employed, and techniques such as global variance-based sensitivity analysis and Kriging-based surrogate modeling are further implemented in order to enhance the identification process and reduce the overall computational burden. The methodology has been validated in a historical riveted steel bridge in O Barqueiro, north of Galicia, Spain. The results show a good agreement in the identified model parameter values and a noticeable correlation between numerical and experimental modal properties, with an average relative error in frequencies of 0.34% and 0.44% for the deterministic and probabilistic approaches and an average MAC (Modal Assurance Criterion) ratio of 0.96.Fundación BBVAAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PRE2019-087331Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Applied Metaheuristic Computing

For decades, Applied Metaheuristic Computing (AMC) has been a prevailing optimization technique for tackling perplexing engineering and business problems, such as scheduling, routing, ordering, bin packing, assignment, facility layout planning, among others. This is partly because the classic exact methods are constrained with prior assumptions, and partly due to the heuristics being problem-dependent and lacking generalization. AMC, on the contrary, guides the course of low-level heuristics to search beyond the local optimality, which impairs the capability of traditional computation methods. This topic series has collected quality papers proposing cutting-edge methodology and innovative applications which drive the advances of AMC

Heuristics and metaheuristics in the design of sound-absorbing porous materials

Inexact optimisation techniques such as heuristics and metaheuristics that quickly find near-optimal solutions are widely used to solve hard problems. While metaheuristics are well studied on specific problem domains such as travelling salesman, timetabling, vehicle routing etc., their extension to engineering domains is largely unexplored due to the requirement of domain expertise. In this thesis, we address a specific engineering domain: the design of sound-absorbing porous materials. Porous materials are foams, fibrous materials, woven and non-woven textiles, etc., that are widely used in automotive, aerospace and household applications to isolate and absorb noise to prevent equipment damage, protect hearing or ensure comfort. These materials constitute a significant amount of dead weight in aircraft and space applications, and choosing sub-optimal designs would lead to inefficiency and increased costs. By carefully choosing the material properties and shapes of these materials, favourable resonances can be created making it possible to improve absorption while also reducing weight. The optimisation problem structure is yet to be well-explored and not many comparison studies are available in this domain. This thesis aims to address the knowledge gap by analysing the performance of existing and novel heuristic and metaheuristic methods. Initially, the problem structure is explored by considering a one-dimensional layered sound package problem. Then, the challenging two-dimensional foam shape and topology optimisation is addressed. Topology optimisation involves optimally distributing a given volume of material in a design region such that a performance measure is maximised. Although extensive studies exist for the compliance minimisation problem domain, studies and comparisons on porous material problems are relatively rare. Firstly, a single objective absorption maximisation problem with a constraint on the weight is considered. Then a multi-objective problem of simultaneously maximising absorption and minimising weight is considered. The unique nature of the topology optimisation problem allows it to be solved using combinatorial or continuous, gradient or non-gradient methods. In this work, several optimisation methods are studied, including solid isotropic material with penalisation (SIMP), hill climbing, constructive heuristics, genetic algorithms, tabu search, co-variance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES), differential evolution, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and hybrid strategies. These approaches are tested on a benchmark of seven acoustics problem instances. The results are used to extract domain-specific insights. The findings highlight that the problem domain is rich with unique varieties of solutions, and by using domain-specific insights, one can design hybrid gradient and non-gradient methods that consistently outperform state-of-the-art ones

Aeronautical Engineering: A special bibliography with indexes, supplement 48

This special bibliography lists 291 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in August 1974

Heuristics and metaheuristics in the design of sound-absorbing porous materials

Inexact optimisation techniques such as heuristics and metaheuristics that quickly find near-optimal solutions are widely used to solve hard problems. While metaheuristics are well studied on specific problem domains such as travelling salesman, timetabling, vehicle routing etc., their extension to engineering domains is largely unexplored due to the requirement of domain expertise. In this thesis, we address a specific engineering domain: the design of sound-absorbing porous materials. Porous materials are foams, fibrous materials, woven and non-woven textiles, etc., that are widely used in automotive, aerospace and household applications to isolate and absorb noise to prevent equipment damage, protect hearing or ensure comfort. These materials constitute a significant amount of dead weight in aircraft and space applications, and choosing sub-optimal designs would lead to inefficiency and increased costs. By carefully choosing the material properties and shapes of these materials, favourable resonances can be created making it possible to improve absorption while also reducing weight. The optimisation problem structure is yet to be well-explored and not many comparison studies are available in this domain. This thesis aims to address the knowledge gap by analysing the performance of existing and novel heuristic and metaheuristic methods. Initially, the problem structure is explored by considering a one-dimensional layered sound package problem. Then, the challenging two-dimensional foam shape and topology optimisation is addressed. Topology optimisation involves optimally distributing a given volume of material in a design region such that a performance measure is maximised. Although extensive studies exist for the compliance minimisation problem domain, studies and comparisons on porous material problems are relatively rare. Firstly, a single objective absorption maximisation problem with a constraint on the weight is considered. Then a multi-objective problem of simultaneously maximising absorption and minimising weight is considered. The unique nature of the topology optimisation problem allows it to be solved using combinatorial or continuous, gradient or non-gradient methods. In this work, several optimisation methods are studied, including solid isotropic material with penalisation (SIMP), hill climbing, constructive heuristics, genetic algorithms, tabu search, co-variance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES), differential evolution, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and hybrid strategies. These approaches are tested on a benchmark of seven acoustics problem instances. The results are used to extract domain-specific insights. The findings highlight that the problem domain is rich with unique varieties of solutions, and by using domain-specific insights, one can design hybrid gradient and non-gradient methods that consistently outperform state-of-the-art ones