On the Performance of the PSP Method for Mixed-Variable Multi-Objective Design Optimization

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeeshan Omer Khokhar ◽  
Hengameh Vahabzadeh ◽  
Amirreza Ziai ◽  
G. Gary Wang ◽  
Carlo Menon

Practical design optimization problems require use of computationally expensive “black-box” functions. The Pareto set pursuing (PSP) method, for solving multi-objective optimization problems with expensive black-box functions, was originally developed for continuous variables. In this paper, modifications are made to allow solution of problems with mixed continuous-discrete variables. A performance comparison strategy for nongradient-based multi-objective algorithms is discussed based on algorithm efficiency, robustness, and closeness to the true Pareto front with a limited number of function evaluations. Results using several methods, along with the modified PSP, are given for a suite of benchmark problems and two engineering design ones. The modified PSP is found to be competitive when the total number of function evaluations is limited, but faces an increased computational challenge when the number of design variables increases.

2014 ◽  
Vol 984-985 ◽  
pp. 419-424
Author(s):  
P. Sabarinath ◽  
M.R. Thansekhar ◽  
R. Saravanan

Arriving optimal solutions is one of the important tasks in engineering design. Many real-world design optimization problems involve multiple conflicting objectives. The design variables are of continuous or discrete in nature. In general, for solving Multi Objective Optimization methods weight method is preferred. In this method, all the objective functions are converted into a single objective function by assigning suitable weights to each objective functions. The main drawback lies in the selection of proper weights. Recently, evolutionary algorithms are used to find the nondominated optimal solutions called as Pareto optimal front in a single run. In recent years, Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) finds increasing applications in solving multi objective problems comprising of conflicting objectives because of low computational requirements, elitism and parameter-less sharing approach. In this work, we propose a methodology which integrates NSGA-II and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for solving a two bar truss problem. NSGA-II searches for the Pareto set where two bar truss is evaluated in terms of minimizing the weight of the truss and minimizing the total displacement of the joint under the given load. Subsequently, TOPSIS selects the best compromise solution.


1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Tong Loh ◽  
P. Y. Papalambros

Design optimization models of often contain variables that must take only discrete values, such as standard sizes. Nonlinear optimization problems with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables are very difficult, and existing algorithms are either computationally intensive or applicable to models with special structure. A new approach for solving nonlinear mixed-discrete problems with no particular structure is presented here, motivated by its efficiency for models with extensive monotonicities of the problem’s objective and constraint functions with respect to the design variables. It involves solving a sequence of mixed-discrete linear approximations of the original nonlinear model. In this article, a review of previous approaches is followed by description of the resulting algorithm, its convergence properties and limitations. Several illustrative examples are given. A sequel article presents a detailed algorithmic implementation and extensive computational results.


Author(s):  
Han Tong Loh ◽  
Panos Y. Papalambros

Abstract Design optimization models often contain variables that must take only discrete values, such as standard sizes. Nonlinear optimization problems with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables are very difficult, and existing algorithms are either computationally intensive or applicable to models with special structure. A new approach for solving nonlinear mixed-discrete problems with no particular structure is presented here, motivated by its efficiency for models with extensive monotonicities of the problem’s objective and constraint functions with respect to the design variables. It involves solving a sequence of mixed-discrete linear approximations of the original nonlinear model. In this article, a review of previous approaches is followed by description of the resulting algorithm, its convergence properties and limitations. Several illustrative examples are given. A sequel article presents a detailed algorithmic implementation and extensive computational results.


2012 ◽  
Vol 215-216 ◽  
pp. 592-596
Author(s):  
Li Gao ◽  
Rong Rong Wang

In order to deal with complex product design optimization problems with both discrete and continuous variables, mix-variable collaborative design optimization algorithm is put forward based on collaborative optimization, which is an efficient way to solve mix-variable design optimization problems. On the rule of “divide and rule”, the algorithm decouples the problem into some relatively simple subsystems. Then by using collaborative mechanism, the optimal solution is obtained. Finally, the result of a case shows the feasibility and effectiveness of the new algorithm.


Author(s):  
George H. Cheng ◽  
Adel Younis ◽  
Kambiz Haji Hajikolaei ◽  
G. Gary Wang

Mode Pursuing Sampling (MPS) was developed as a global optimization algorithm for optimization problems involving expensive black box functions. MPS has been found to be effective and efficient for problems of low dimensionality, i.e., the number of design variables is less than ten. A previous conference publication integrated the concept of trust regions into the MPS framework to create a new algorithm, TRMPS, which dramatically improved performance and efficiency for high dimensional problems. However, although TRMPS performed better than MPS, it was unproven against other established algorithms such as GA. This paper introduces an improved algorithm, TRMPS2, which incorporates guided sampling and low function value criterion to further improve algorithm performance for high dimensional problems. TRMPS2 is benchmarked against MPS and GA using a suite of test problems. The results show that TRMPS2 performs better than MPS and GA on average for high dimensional, expensive, and black box (HEB) problems.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Farmani ◽  
Jafar Roshanian ◽  
Meisam Babaie ◽  
Parviz M Zadeh

This article focuses on the efficient multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm to solve multidisciplinary design optimization problems. The objective is to extend the formulation of collaborative optimization which has been widely used to solve single-objective optimization problems. To examine the proposed structure, racecar design problem is taken as an example of application for three objective functions. In addition, a fuzzy decision maker is applied to select the best solution along the pareto front based on the defined criteria. The results are compared to the traditional optimization, and collaborative optimization formulations that do not use multi-objective particle swarm optimization. It is shown that the integration of multi-objective particle swarm optimization into collaborative optimization provides an efficient framework for design and analysis of hierarchical multidisciplinary design optimization problems.


Author(s):  
Hashem Ashrafiuon

Abstract Design optimization of aircraft engine-mount systems for vibration isolation is presented. The engine is modeled as a rigid body connected to a flexible base representing the nacelle. The base is modeled with mass and stiffness matrices and structural damping using finite element modeling. The mounts are modeled as three-dimensional springs with hysteresis damping. The objective is to select the stiffness coefficients and orientation angles of the individual mounts to minimize the transmitted forces from the engine to the base. Meanwhile, the mounts have to be stiff enough not allowing engine deflection to exceed its limits under static and low frequency loadings. It is shown that with an optimal system the transmitted forces may be reduced significantly particularly when mount orientation angles are also treated as design variables. The optimization problems are solved using a Constraint Variable Metric approach. The closed form derivatives of the engine vibrational amplitudes with respect to design variables are derived in order to achieve a more effective optimization search technique.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Xin Li ◽  
Xiaoli Li ◽  
Kang Wang

The key characteristic of multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is that it can find a good approximate multi-objective optimal solution set when solving multi-objective optimization problems(MOPs). However, most multi-objective evolutionary algorithms perform well on regular multi-objective optimization problems, but their performance on irregular fronts deteriorates. In order to remedy this issue, this paper studies the existing algorithms and proposes a multi-objective evolutionary based on niche selection to deal with irregular Pareto fronts. In this paper, the crowding degree is calculated by the niche method in the process of selecting parents when the non-dominated solutions converge to the first front, which improves the the quality of offspring solutions and which is beneficial to local search. In addition, niche selection is adopted into the process of environmental selection through considering the number and the location of the individuals in its niche radius, which improve the diversity of population. Finally, experimental results on 23 benchmark problems including MaF and IMOP show that the proposed algorithm exhibits better performance than the compared MOEAs.


Author(s):  
Xiaohui Yuan ◽  
Zhihuan Chen ◽  
Yanbin Yuan ◽  
Yuehua Huang ◽  
Xiaopan Zhang

A novel strength Pareto gravitational search algorithm (SPGSA) is proposed to solve multi-objective optimization problems. This SPGSA algorithm utilizes the strength Pareto concept to assign the fitness values for agents and uses a fine-grained elitism selection mechanism to keep the population diversity. Furthermore, the recombination operators are modeled in this approach to decrease the possibility of trapping in local optima. Experiments are conducted on a series of benchmark problems that are characterized by difficulties in local optimality, nonuniformity, and nonconvexity. The results show that the proposed SPGSA algorithm performs better in comparison with other related works. On the other hand, the effectiveness of two subtle means added to the GSA are verified, i.e. the fine-grained elitism selection and the use of SBX and PMO operators. Simulation results show that these measures not only improve the convergence ability of original GSA, but also preserve the population diversity adequately, which enables the SPGSA algorithm to have an excellent ability that keeps a desirable balance between the exploitation and exploration so as to accelerate the convergence speed to the true Pareto-optimal front.


Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Ni ◽  
Jiale Gao ◽  
Yafei Song ◽  
Wen Quan ◽  
Qinghua Xing

In the real world, multi-objective optimization problems always change over time in most projects. Once the environment changes, the distribution of the optimal solutions would also be changed in decision space. Sometimes, such change may obey the law of symmetry, i.e., the minimum of the objective function in such environment is its maximum in another environment. In such cases, the optimal solutions keep unchanged or vibrate in a small range. However, in most cases, they do not obey the law of symmetry. In order to continue the search that maintains previous search advantages in the changed environment, some prediction strategy would be used to predict the operation position of the Pareto set. Because of this, the segment and multi-directional prediction is proposed in this paper, which consists of three mechanisms. First, by segmenting the optimal solutions set, the prediction about the changes in the distribution of the Pareto front can be ensured. Second, by introducing the cloud theory, the distance error of direction prediction can be offset effectively. Third, by using extra angle search, the angle error of prediction caused by the Pareto set nonlinear variation can also be offset effectively. Finally, eight benchmark problems were used to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm and compared algorithms. The results indicate that the algorithm proposed in this paper has good convergence and distribution, as well as a quick response ability to the changed environment.


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