Hierarchical Arrangement of Characteristics in Product Design Optimization Problems for Deeper Insight Into Optimized Results

Author(s):  
Masataka Yoshimura ◽  
Masahiko Taniguchi ◽  
Kazuhiro Izui ◽  
Shinji Nishiwaki

This paper proposes a design optimization method for machine products that is based on the decomposition of performance characteristics, or alternatively, extraction of simpler characteristics, to accommodate the specific features or difficulties of a particular design problem. The optimization problem is expressed using hierarchical constructions of the decomposed and extracted characteristics and the optimizations are sequentially repeated, starting with groups of characteristics having conflicting characteristics at the lowest hierarchical level and proceeding to higher levels. The proposed method not only effectively enables achieving optimum design solutions, but also facilitates deeper insight into the design optimization results, and aids obtaining ideas for breakthroughs in the optimum solutions. An applied example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masataka Yoshimura ◽  
Masahiko Taniguchi ◽  
Kazuhiro Izui ◽  
Shinji Nishiwaki

This paper proposes a machine product design optimization method based on the decomposition of performance characteristics, or alternatively, extraction of simpler characteristics, that is especially responsive to the detailed features or difficulties presented by specific design problems. The optimization problems examined here are expressed using hierarchical constructions of the decomposed and extracted characteristics and the optimizations are sequentially repeated, starting with groups of characteristics having conflicting characteristics at the lowest hierarchical level and proceeding to higher levels. The proposed method not only effectively provides optimum design solutions, but also facilitates deeper insight into the design optimization results, so that ideas for optimum solution breakthroughs are more easily obtained. An applied example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


Author(s):  
Masataka Yoshimura ◽  
Koichi Sasaki ◽  
Kazuhiro Izui ◽  
Shinji Nishiwaki

Product design optimizations usually require the optimization of not only all performance characteristics, but also the robustness of certain performance characteristics. Obtaining optimum design solutions is far from easy, since this requires evaluations of numerous related characteristics that usually have complicated and conflicting interrelationships. Some of these characteristics can include variations of one type or another, such as manufacturing process variations, variations pertaining to the environments where the product is used, variations in how long-term use affects certain product characteristics, and so on. The difficulty of obtaining optimum design solutions is thus compounded by the need to carry out specific optimizations that provide sufficient robustness to safely accommodate anticipated ranges of variations. This paper expands the hierarchical multiobjective optimization method based on simplification and decomposition of characteristics so that optimizations can be concurrently conducted for both performance characteristics and maximization of robustness against characteristic variances. A principal cause of variations in performance characteristics is variations in the contact conditions of joints, and the utility of the proposed robust product design optimization method is demonstrated by applying it to machine-tool models that include joints.


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):  
Tamás Orosz ◽  
David Pánek ◽  
Pavel Karban

Since large power transformers are custom-made, and their design process is a labor-intensive task, their design process is split into different parts. In tendering, the price calculation is based on the preliminary design of the transformer. Due to the complexity of this task, it belongs to the most general branch of discrete, non-linear mathematical optimization problems. Most of the published algorithms are using a copper filling factor based winding model to calculate the main dimensions of the transformer during this first, preliminary design step. Therefore, these cost optimization methods are not considering the detailed winding layout and the conductor dimensions. However, the knowledge of the exact conductor dimensions is essential to calculate the thermal behaviour of the windings and make a more accurate stray loss calculation. The paper presents a novel, evolutionary algorithm-based transformer optimization method which can determine the optimal conductor shape for the windings during this examined preliminary design stage. The accuracy of the presented FEM method was tested on an existing transformer design. Then the results of the proposed optimization method have been compared with a validated transformer design optimization algorithm.


2018 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. 10019
Author(s):  
Hao Li ◽  
Changzhu Wei

A trajectory optimization method for RLV based on artificial memory principles is proposed. Firstly the optimization problem is modelled in Euclidean space. Then in order to solve the complicated optimization problem of RLV in entry phase, Artificial-memory-principle optimization (AMPO) is introduced. AMPO is inspired by memory principles, in which a memory cell consists the whole information of an alternative solution. The information includes solution state and memory state. The former is an evolutional alternative solution, the latter indicates the state type of memory cell: temporary, short-and long-term. In the evolution of optimization, AMPO makes a various search (stimulus) to ensure adaptability, if the stimulus is good, memory state will turn temporary to short-term, even long-term, otherwise it not. Finally, simulation of different methods is carried out respectively. Results show that the method based on AMPO has better performance and high convergence speed when solving complicated optimization problems of RLV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Tang ◽  
Teng Long ◽  
Renhe Shi ◽  
Yufei Wu ◽  
G. Gary Wang

Abstract To further reduce the computational expense of metamodel-based design optimization (MBDO), a novel sequential radial basis function (RBF)-based optimization method using virtual sample generation (SRBF-VSG) is proposed. Different from the conventional MBDO methods with pure expensive samples, SRBF-VSG employs the virtual sample generation mechanism to improve the optimization efficiency. In the proposed method, a least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) classifier is trained based on expensive real samples considering the objective and constraint violation. The classifier is used to determine virtual points without evaluating any expensive simulations. The virtual samples are then generated by combining these virtual points and their Kriging responses. Expensive real samples and cheap virtual samples are used to refine the objective RBF metamodel for efficient space exploration. Several numerical benchmarks are tested to demonstrate the optimization capability of SRBF-VSG. The comparison results indicate that SRBF-VSG generally outperforms the competitive MBDO methods in terms of global convergence, efficiency, and robustness, which illustrates the effectiveness of virtual sample generation. Finally, SRBF-VSG is applied to an airfoil aerodynamic optimization problem and a small Earth observation satellite multidisciplinary design optimization problem to demonstrate its practicality for solving real-world optimization problems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamrul Hasan Rahi ◽  
Hemant Kumar Singh ◽  
Tapabrata Ray

Abstract Real-world design optimization problems commonly entail constraints that must be satisfied for the design to be viable. Mathematically, the constraints divide the search space into feasible (where all constraints are satisfied) and infeasible (where at least one constraint is violated) regions. The presence of multiple constraints, constricted and/or disconnected feasible regions, non-linearity and multi-modality of the underlying functions could significantly slow down the convergence of evolutionary algorithms (EA). Since each design evaluation incurs some time/computational cost, it is of significant interest to improve the rate of convergence to obtain competitive solutions with relatively fewer design evaluations. In this study, we propose to accomplish this using two mechanisms: (a) more intensified search by identifying promising regions through “bump-hunting,” and (b) use of infeasibility-driven ranking to exploit the fact that optimal solutions are likely to be located on constraint boundaries. Numerical experiments are conducted on a range of mathematical benchmarks and empirically formulated engineering problems, as well as a simulation-based wind turbine design optimization problem. The proposed approach shows up to 53.48% improvement in median objective values and up to 69.23% reduction in cost of identifying a feasible solution compared with a baseline EA.


Author(s):  
Narasimha R. Nagaiah ◽  
Christopher D. Geiger

The design and development is a complex, repetitive, and more often difficult task, as design tasks comprising of restraining and conflicting relationships among design variables with more than one design objectives. Conventional methods for solving more than one objective optimization problems is to build one composite function by scalarizing the multiple objective functions into a single objective function with one solution. But, the disadvantages of conventional methods inspired scientists and engineers to look for different methods that result in more than one design solutions, also known as Pareto optimal solutions instead of one single solution. Furthermore, these methods not only involved in the optimization of more than one objectives concurrently but also optimize the objectives which are conflicting in nature, where optimizing one or more objective affects the outcome of other objectives negatively. This study demonstrates a nature-based and bio-inspired evolutionary simulation method that addresses the disadvantages of current methods in the application of design optimization. As an example, in this research, we chose to optimize the periodic segment of the cooling passage of an industrial gas turbine blade comprising of ribs (also known as turbulators) to enhance the cooling effectiveness. The outlined design optimization method provides a set of tradeoff designs to pick from depending on designer requirements.


1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Azarm ◽  
W.-C. Li

The objective of this paper is twofold. First, an optimality test is presented to show that the optimality conditions for a separable two-level design optimization problem before and after its decomposition are the same. Second, based on identification of active constraints and exploitation of problem structure, a simple approach for calculating the gradient of a “second-level” problem is presented. This gradient is an important piece of information which is needed for solution of two-level design optimization problems. Three examples are given to demonstrate applications of the approach.


Author(s):  
Rami Mansour ◽  
Mårten Olsson

In reliability-based design optimization (RBDO), an optimal design which minimizes an objective function while satisfying a number of probabilistic constraints is found. As opposed to deterministic optimization, statistical uncertainties in design variables and design parameters have to be taken into account in the design process in order to achieve a reliable design. In the most widely used RBDO approaches, the First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) is used in the probability assessment. This involves locating the Most Probable Point (MPP) of failure, or the inverse MPP, either exactly or approximately. If exact methods are used, an optimization problem has to be solved, typically resulting in computationally expensive double loop or decoupled loop RBDO methods. On the other hand, locating the MPP approximately typically results in highly efficient single loop RBDO methods since the optimization problem is not necessary in the probability assessment. However, since all these methods are based on FORM, which in turn is based on a linearization of the deterministic constraints at the MPP, they may suffer inaccuracies associated with neglecting the nonlinearity of deterministic constraints. In a previous paper presented by the authors, the Response Surface Single Loop (RSSL) Reliability-based design optimization method was proposed. The RSSL-method takes into account the non-linearity of the deterministic constraints in the computation of the probability of failure and was therefore shown to have higher accuracy than existing RBDO methods. The RSSL-method was also shown to have high efficiency since it bypasses the concept of an MPP. In RSSL, the deterministic solution is first found by neglecting uncertainties in design variables and parameters. Thereafter quadratic response surface models are fitted to the deterministic constraints around the deterministic solution using a single set of design of experiments. The RBDO problem is thereafter solved in a single loop using a closed-form second order reliability method (SORM) which takes into account all elements of the Hessian of the quadratic constraints. In this paper, the RSSL method is used to solve the more challenging system RBDO problems where all constraints are replaced by one constraint on the system probability of failure. The probabilities of failure for the constraints are assumed independent of each other. In general, system reliability problems may be more challenging to solve since replacing all constraints by one constraint may strongly increase the non-linearity in the optimization problem. The extensively studied reliability-based design for vehicle crash-worthiness, where the provided deterministic constraints are general quadratic models describing the system in the whole region of interest, is used to demonstrate the capabilities of the RSSL method for problems with system reliability constraints.


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