Application of Cargo Distribution Computation in Airbus A330 Cargo Aircraft with Optimization Algorithms

Weight and balance problems are one of the main reasons for cargo aircraft accidents including around 30% of accidents that are due to Center of Gravity (CG). Because the pilots often calculate CG index using Load & Trim Sheets manually or use a set of simple formulas, in these calculations, it is only checked whether CG index is within the safe zone instead of determining the ideal value. In order for the safety and fuel economy to be maximized in an aircraft, CG index should be calculated at the ideal value given in the Aircraft Handling Manual. Due to safety and cost concerns, airline companies prefer non-commercial optimization solutions. Therefore, we proposed new heuristic approaches that have been motivated by a real-world application for a major airline company. First, we applied standard GA, WSA, PSO algorithms to obtain a solution that is as close as possible to the ideal CG index in an Airbus A330 cargo plan. Then, we modified standard WSA and PSO algorithms to decrease the error value and to better achieve the ideal CG index. These proposed heuristic solutions have the potential to help the pilots flying cargo aircraft with maximum safety and minimum fuel consumption

Computer software for analysis and design optimization of power transmission structures by simulated annealing and sensitivity analysis

Versión aceptada de https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-020-01022-x[Abstract:] This paper presents a computer software for the optimization of power transmission structures. The software employs a modified version of the Simulated Annealing algorithm that has been proven effective in large engineering problems. The target structures are three-dimensional steel trusses to be used as supporting towers of electrical lines. A mixed formulation merging continuous and discrete design variables is proposed for optimizing the size and shape of the trusses, including a first-order sensitivity analysis that reduces the computational cost. The implementation can be adapted to any kind of transmission tower and allows to quickly create a model to be analyzed and optimized in a few sequential steps. Despite its simplicity of use, the tools provided by the proposed framework allow to perform a full analysis of the design and provide an entire comprehension of its structural behavior. The software also includes a post-process and visualization tool set in a user-friendly graphical interface.Xunta de Galicia; GRC2014/039This work has been partially supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Grant #DPI2012-33622) of the Spanish Government, by the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria of the Xunta de Galicia (Grant #GRC2014/039) and by research fellowships of the Universidade da Coruña and the Fundación de la Ingeniería Civil de Galicia and has been cofinanced by FEDER funds

Geometry and topology optimization of plane frames for compliance minimization using force density method for geometry model

A new method is proposed for simultaneous optimization of shape, topology and cross section of plane frames. Compliance against specified loads is minimized under constraint on structural volume. Difficulties caused by the melting nodes can be alleviated to some extent by introducing force density as design variables for defining the geometry, where the side constraints are assigned for force density to indirectly avoid the existence of extremely short members. Force density method is applied to an auxiliary cable-net model with different boundary and loading conditions so that the regularity of force density matrix is ensured by positive force densities. Sensitivity coefficients of the objective and constraint functions with respect to the design variables are also explicitly calculated. After the optimal geometry of the frame is obtained, the topology is further improved by removing the thin members and combining closely spaced nodes. It is demonstrated in the numerical examples of three types of frames that rational geometry and topology can be achieved using the proposed method, and the effect of bending moment on the optimal solution is also discussed

Optimal placement of binary actuators in deformable optical systems

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-113).Recently, exploration has been conducted into the applicability of binary mechatronics to active figure correction in large optical systems such as space telescopes and ground-based solar-thermal concentrators. This Thesis will continue this exploration. The information-theoretic requirements of the corrective commands required in active optics will be explored to understand the dimensionality of the continuous workspace sampled by binary actuation. In both the minimal expected error and the minimal computation time sense, the optimal discrete workspace is the uniform discrete distribution. A rigorous analogy between binary mechatronics and discrete random variables will be used to show that this optimal workspace is achievable by a linear superposition of actuators with exponentially decreasing influences on the optical surface. It will be proven that elasticity can be exploited to construct mechanisms where constant magnitude actuators exhibit exponentially decaying influences on certain parts of the mechanism, allowing for designs where individual binary actuators correspond to binary bits of the required deformation. A planar truss mechanism designed with this philosophy will be presented and shown to have independent kinematic control of multiple adjacent displacements on its top side. Finally, this design will be shown extend to three dimensions in a manner applicable to optical figure correction. Due to the complexity of mechanisms that meet the optimality criteria, only theoretical analysis will be presented.by Roman Geykhman.S.M

Parametric design and optimization of arched trusses under vertical and horizontal multi-load cases

This dissertation faces the problem of the optimum design of steel truss arches subject to multiple load cases. Arches are one of the most ancient shape-resistant structures, widely used in both civil engineering and architecture. For instance, arches can be considered as purely compressed structures, provided that their “line of thrust” coincides with the centre line of the arch. The “line of thrust” is the locus of the points of application of the thrusts (internal forces or stress resultants) that must be contained within the cross-section of the arch in such a way that the arch transfers loads to the foundations through axial compressive stresses only. As a matter of fact, the more the “line of thrust” differs from the centre line of the arch, the larger the unfavourable bending moments that arise in the arch. This is the reason why it is fundamental to pay close attention to the choice of the shape for an arch in order to minimize (or avoid when it is possible) unfavourable bending effects. Several analytical, graphical and physical methods are provided to find the optimal shape of a monolithic (single rib) arch subjected to a certain load case (i.e. the “funicular curve” for that load). However, if multiple load cases must be considered, it is not possible to find a proper optimal shape for an arch with single rib. In this case, the choice of truss arches with at least two chords becomes indispensable. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that structural optimization of in-plane truss arches with two chords subjected to a single load case leads to optimal solutions in which upper and lower chords tend to coincide with each other and with the “funicular curve” (i.e. the “line of thrust”) for that load. In light of the above, simultaneous shape and size optimization of steel truss arches with two arched chords linked each other through a bracing system (with variable Pratt-type pattern) has been performed for multiple load cases and different structural boundary conditions. Truss arches are effectively used in arch bridges, especially when the arch span exceeds 200 meters (five out of the six steel arch bridges with a span over 500 m are truss arch bridges). For this purpose, a hybrid optimization routine integrating a parametric definition of the design problem, a metaheuristic optimization algorithm and a code for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been developed through a MATLAB program. The proposed optimization method allows to simultaneously optimize a larger set of design variables, notwithstanding their large number and various nature (topology, shape and size, as well as continuous and discrete variables, have been concurrently considered). Third-degree Rational Bézier Curves have been chosen to optimize the shape of the arch chords because they can represent a wide family of curves (including conic curves), depending on a small number of parameters. In so doing, in-plane truss arches with different span lengths and structural boundary conditions have been optimized for multiple load cases, only considering vertical loads (acting on the same plane as the arch), since in-plane arches are not suited to withstand out-of-plane loads. On the other hand, spatial arched trusses with two arched chords lying on different planes have been optimally designed for multiple loadings acting in different directions. In particular, a steel arched truss with a lower arched chord variably inclined in the 3D-space and a horizontal upper arched chord linked each other through a bracing system has been designed and optimized for three vertical load cases and a horizontal seismic action parallel to the upper chord plane. Thus, analysing the obtained results, useful suggestions for steel truss arch design have been deduced and presented in this dissertation

Optimizing of Wear Performance on Elevated Temperature of ZrO2 Reinforced AMCs Using Weighted Superposition Attraction Algorithm

462-474In the current study, the zirconium oxide (ZrO2) reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) was designed as a brake lining and produced by mechanical alloying (MA) method. Wear tests of AMCs were performed according to ASTM G-99 at different sliding distance, operating temperatures and load in the range of 53 to 94 m, 20 to 340℃ and 10 to 30 Nrespectively. Optimum wear performance parameters were determined using the Weighted Superposition Attraction (WSA)algorithm. Firstly, to formulize the problem as an optimization problem through the guidance of the regression modelling, anexperimental design has been constructed, and the wear tests have been done at different reinforced rates, operatingtemperature and loads. Secondly, WSA algorithm has been adapted to tackle the formulated optimization problem.According to the results of WSA algorithm, the optimum rate of zirkonium oxide (ZrO2), load and operating temperaturewas determined as 12%, 206.33°C and 21.20 N respectively while keeping the friction coefficient between 0.15–0.24

The 1982 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

A NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Research Program was conducted to further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members, to stimulate an exchange of ideas between participants and NASA, to enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions, and to contribute to the research objectives of the NASA Centers

Control oriented modelling of an integrated attitude and vibration suppression architecture for large space structures

This thesis is divided into two parts. The main focus of the research, namely active vibration control for large flexible spacecraft, is exposed in Part I and, in parallel, the topic of machine learning techniques for modern space applications is described in Part II. In particular, this thesis aims at proposing an end-to-end general architecture for an integrated attitude-vibration control system, starting from the design of structural models to the synthesis of the control laws. To this purpose, large space structures based on realistic missions are investigated as study cases, in accordance with the tendency of increasing the size of the scientific instruments to improve their sensitivity, being the drawback an increase of its overall flexibility. An active control method is therefore investigated to guarantee satisfactory pointing and maximum deformation by avoiding classical stiffening methods. Therefore, the instrument is designed to be supported by an active deployable frame hosting an optimal minimum set of collocated smart actuators and sensors. Different spatial configurations for the placement of the distributed network of active devices are investigated, both at closed-loop and open-loop levels. Concerning closed-loop techniques, a method to optimally place the poles of the system via a Direct Velocity Feedback (DVF) controller is proposed to identify simultaneously the location and number of active devices for vibration control with an in-cascade optimization technique. Then, two general and computationally efficient open-loop placement techniques, namely Gramian and Modal Strain Energy (MSE)-based methods, are adopted as opposed to heuristic algorithms, which imply high computational costs and are generally not suitable for high-dimensional systems, to propose a placement architecture for generically shaped tridimensional space structures. Then, an integrated robust control architecture for the spacecraft is presented as composed of both an attitude control scheme and a vibration control system. To conclude the study, attitude manoeuvres are performed to excite main flexible modes and prove the efficacy of both attitude and vibration control architectures. Moreover, Part II is dedicated to address the problem of improving autonomy and self-awareness of modern spacecraft, by using machine-learning based techniques to carry out Failure Identification for large space structures and improving the pointing performance of spacecraft (both flexible satellite with sloshing models and small rigid platforms) when performing repetitive Earth Observation manoeuvres

NASA Workshop on Distributed Parameter Modeling and Control of Flexible Aerospace Systems

Although significant advances have been made in modeling and controlling flexible systems, there remains a need for improvements in model accuracy and in control performance. The finite element models of flexible systems are unduly complex and are almost intractable to optimum parameter estimation for refinement using experimental data. Distributed parameter or continuum modeling offers some advantages and some challenges in both modeling and control. Continuum models often result in a significantly reduced number of model parameters, thereby enabling optimum parameter estimation. The dynamic equations of motion of continuum models provide the advantage of allowing the embedding of the control system dynamics, thus forming a complete set of system dynamics. There is also increased insight provided by the continuum model approach