Topological Design for 3-D Optimization Using the Combination of Multistep Genetic Algorithm with Design Space Reduction and Nonconforming Mesh Connection

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 515-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Okamoto ◽  
Yusuke Tominaga ◽  
Shuji Sato
Author(s):  
T. Phoomboplab ◽  
D. Ceglarek

Fixtures control the positions and orientations of parts in an assembly process. Inaccuracies of fixture locators or nonoptimal fixture layouts can result in the deviation of a workpiece from its design nominal and lead to overall product dimensional variability and low process yield. Major challenges involving the design of a set of fixture layouts for multistation assembly system can be enumerated into three categories: (1) high-dimensional design space since a large number of locators are involved in the multistation system, (2) large and complex design space for each locator since the design space represents the area of a particular part or subassembly surfaces on which a locator is placed, (here, the design space varies with a particular part design and is further expanded when parts are assembled into subassemblies), and (3) the nonlinear relations between locator nominal positions and key product characteristics. This paper presents a new approach to improve process yield by determining an optimum set of fixture layouts for a given multistation assembly system, which can satisfy (1) the part and subassembly locating stability in each fixture layout and (2) the fixture system robustness against environmental noises in order to minimize product dimensional variability. The proposed methodology is based on a two-step optimization which involves the integration of genetic algorithm and Hammersley sequence sampling. First, genetic algorithm is used for design space reduction by estimating the areas of optimal fixture locations in initial design spaces. Then, Hammersley sequence sampling uniformly samples the candidate sets of fixture layouts from those predetermined areas for the optimum. The process yield and part instability index are design objectives in evaluating candidate sets of fixture layouts. An industrial case study illustrates and validates the proposed methodology.


Author(s):  
T. Phoomboplab ◽  
D. Ceglarek

This paper presents a new approach to improve process yield by determining an optimum set of fixture layouts for a given multi-station assembly system which can satisfy: (i) parts and subassemblies locating stability in each fixture layout; and (ii) fixture system robustness against environmental noises in order to minimize product dimensional variability. Three major challenges of the multi-stage assembly processes are addressed: (i) high-dimensional design space; (ii) large and complex design space of each locator; and (iii) the nonlinear relations between locator positions, also called Key Control Characteristics, and Key Product Characteristics. The proposed methodology conducts two-step optimization based on the integration of Genetic Algorithm and Hammersley Sequence Sampling. First, Genetic Algorithm is used for design space reduction by determining the areas of optimal fixture locations in initial design spaces. Then, Hammersley Sequence Sampling uniformly samples the candidate sets of fixture layouts from the areas predetermined by GA for the optimum. The process yield and part instability index are design objectives in evaluating candidate sets of fixture layouts. An industrial case study illustrates and validates the proposed methodology.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Jai Hoon Park ◽  
Kang Hoon Lee

Designing novel robots that can cope with a specific task is a challenging problem because of the enormous design space that involves both morphological structures and control mechanisms. To this end, we present a computational method for automating the design of modular robots. Our method employs a genetic algorithm to evolve robotic structures as an outer optimization, and it applies a reinforcement learning algorithm to each candidate structure to train its behavior and evaluate its potential learning ability as an inner optimization. The size of the design space is reduced significantly by evolving only the robotic structure and by performing behavioral optimization using a separate training algorithm compared to that when both the structure and behavior are evolved simultaneously. Mutual dependence between evolution and learning is achieved by regarding the mean cumulative rewards of a candidate structure in the reinforcement learning as its fitness in the genetic algorithm. Therefore, our method searches for prospective robotic structures that can potentially lead to near-optimal behaviors if trained sufficiently. We demonstrate the usefulness of our method through several effective design results that were automatically generated in the process of experimenting with actual modular robotics kit.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Qiang Zheng ◽  
Hai-Chao Chang ◽  
Zu-Yuan Liu ◽  
Bai-Wei Feng

Hull optimization design based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a highly computationally intensive complex engineering problem. Because of reasons such as many variables, spatially complex design performance, and huge computational workload, hull optimization efficiency is low. To improve the efficiency of hull optimization, a dynamic space reduction method based on a partial correlation analysis is proposed in this study. The proposed method dynamically uses hull-form optimization data to analyze and reduce the range of values for relevant design variables and, thus, considerably improves the optimization efficiency. This method is used to optimize the wave-making resistance of an S60 hull, and its feasibility is verified through comparison. 1. Introduction In recent years, to promote the rapid development of green ships, hull optimization methods based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have been widely used by many researchers, such as Tahara et al. (2011), Peri and Diez (2013), Kim and Yang (2010), Yang and Huang (2016), Chang et al. (2012), and Feng et al. (2009). However, hull optimization design is a typically complex engineering problem. It requires many numerical simulation calculations, and the design performance space is complex, which has resulted in low optimization efficiency and difficulty in obtaining a global optimal solution. Commonly used solutions include 1) efficient optimization algorithms, 2) approximate model techniques, and 3) high-performance cluster computers. However, these methods still cannot satisfy the engineering application requirements in terms of efficiency and quality of the solution. To solve the problem of low optimization efficiency and difficulty in obtaining an optimal solution in engineering optimization problems, many scholars have conducted research on design space reduction technology. Reungsinkonkarn and Apirukvorapinit (2014) applied the search space reduction (SSR) algorithm to the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, eliminating areas in which optimal solutions may not be found through SSR to improve the optimization efficiency of the algorithm. Chen et al. (2015) and Diez et al. (2014, 2015) used the Karhunen–Loeve expansion to evaluate the hull, eliminating the less influential factors to achieve space reduction modeling with fewer design variables. Further extensions to nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods can be found in D'Agostino et al. (2017) and Serani et al. (2019). Jeong et al. (2005) applied space reduction techniques to the aerodynamic shape optimization of the vane wheel, using the rough set theory and decision trees to extract aerofoil design rules to improve each target. Gao et al. (2009) and Wang et al. (2014) solved the problem of low optimization efficiency in the aerodynamic shape optimization design of an aircraft, by using analysis results of partial correlation, which reduced the range of values of relevant design variables to reconstruct the optimized design space. Li et al. (2013) divided the design space into several smaller cluster spaces using the clustering method, which is a global optimization method based on an approximation model, thus achieving design space reduction. Chu (2010) combined the rough set theory and the clustering method for application to the concept design stage of bulk carriers, thus realizing the exploration and reduction of design space. Feng et al. (2015) applied the rough set theory and the sequential space reduction method to the resistance optimization of typical ship hulls to achieve the reduction of design space. Wu et al. (2016) used partial correlation analysis to reduce the design space of variables of a KCS container ship to improve optimization efficiency. Most of the above space reduction methods need to sample and calculate the original design space in the early stage of optimization and then obtain the reduced design space through data mining. This process increases the computational cost of sampling, making it difficult to control optimization efficiency.


Author(s):  
Rui Manuel Morais ◽  
Armando Nolasco Pinto

The proliferation of Internet access and the appearance of new telecommunications services are originating a demand for resilient networks with extremely high capacity. Thus, topologies able to recover connections in case of failure are essential. Given the node location and the traffic matrix, the survivable topological design is the problem of determining the network topology at minimum capital expenditure such that survivability is ensured. This problem is strongly NP-hard and heuristics are traditionally used to search near-optimal solutions. The authors present a genetic algorithm for this problem. As the convergence of the genetic algorithm depends on the used operators, an analysis of their impact on the quality of the obtained solutions is presented as well. Two initial population generators, two selection methods, two crossover operators, and two population sizes are compared, and the quality of the obtained solutions is assessed using an integer linear programming model.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijaya Lakshmi V. Nadimpalli ◽  
Rajeev Wankar ◽  
Raghavendra Rao Chillarige

In this article, an innovative Genetic Algorithm is proposed to find potential patches enclosing roots of real valued function f:R→R. As roots of f can be real as well as complex, the function is reframed on to complex plane by writing it as f(z). Thus, the problem now is transformed to finding potential patches (rectangles in C) enclosing z such that f(z)=0, which is resolved into two components as real and imaginary parts. The proposed GA generates two random populations of real numbers for the real and imaginary parts in the given regions of interest and no other initial guesses are needed. This is the prominent advantage of the method in contrast to various other methods. Additionally, the proposed ‘Refinement technique' aids in the exhaustive coverage of potential patches enclosing roots and reinforces the selected potential rectangles to be narrow, resulting in significant search space reduction. The method works efficiently even when the roots are closely packed. A set of benchmark functions are presented and the results show the effectiveness and robustness of the new method.


Author(s):  
Jonathan Wanderley De Mesquita ◽  
Marcos Oliveira da Cruz ◽  
Monica Magalhaes Pereira ◽  
Marcio E. Kreutz

Author(s):  
Kurt Hacker ◽  
John Eddy ◽  
Kemper Lewis

Abstract In this paper we present an approach for increasing the efficiency of a hybrid Genetic/Sequential Linear Programming algorithm. We introduce two metrics for evaluating the modality of the design space and then use this information to efficiently switch between the Genetic Algorithm and SLP algorithm. The motivation for this study is an effort to reduce the computational expense associated with the use of a Genetic Algorithm by reducing the number of function evaluations needed to find good solutions. In the paper the two metrics used to evaluate the modality of the design space are the variance in fitness of the population of the designs in the Genetic Algorithm and the error associated with fitting a response surface to the designs evaluates by the Genetic Algorithm. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by considering a highly multimodal Genetic Algorithm benchmarking problem.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document