scholarly journals A Multi-Level Optimization Method for Elastic Constants Identification of Composite Laminates

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 4267
Author(s):  
Chien Yang Huang ◽  
Tai Yan Kam

A new and effective elastic constants identification technique is presented to extract the elastic constants of a composite laminate subjected to uniaxial tensile testing. The proposed technique consists of a new multi-level optimization method that can solve different types of minimization problems, including the extraction of material constants of composite laminates from given strains. In the identification process, the optimization problem is solved by using a stochastic multi-start dynamic search minimization algorithm at the first level in order to obtain the statistics of the quasi-optimal design variables for a set of randomly generated starting points. The statistics of the quasi-optimal elastic constants obtained at this level are used to determine the reduced feasible region in order to formulate the second-level optimization problem. The second-level optimization problem is then solved using the particle swarm algorithm in order to obtain the statistics of the new quasi-optimal elastic constants. The iteration process between the first and second levels of optimization continues until the standard deviations of the quasi-optimal design variables at any level of optimization are less than the prescribed values. The proposed multi-level optimization method, as well as several existing global optimization algorithms, is used to solve a number of well-known mathematical minimization problems to verify the accuracy of the method. For the adopted numerical examples, it has been shown that the proposed method is more efficient and effective than the adopted global minimization algorithms to produce the exact solutions. The proposed method is then applied to identify four elastic constants of a [0°/±45°]s composite laminate using three strains in 0°, 45°, and 90° directions, respectively, of the composite laminate subjected to uniaxial testing. For comparison purposes, several existing global minimization techniques are also used to solve the elastic constants identification problem. Again, it has been shown that the proposed method is capable of producing more accurate results than the adopted available methods. Finally, experimental data are used to demonstrate the applications of the proposed method.

2013 ◽  
Vol 756-759 ◽  
pp. 3466-3470
Author(s):  
Xu Min Song ◽  
Qi Lin

The trajcetory plan problem of spece reandezvous mission was studied in this paper using nolinear optimization method. The optimization model was built based on the Hills equations. And by analysis property of the design variables, a transform was put forward , which eliminated the equation and nonlinear constraints as well as decreaseing the problem dimensions. The optimization problem was solved using Adaptive Simulated Annealing (ASA) method, and the rendezvous trajectory was designed.The method was validated by simulation results.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenchang Zhang ◽  
Yingjie Xu ◽  
Xinyu Hui ◽  
Weihong Zhang

Abstract This paper develops a multi-objective optimization method for the cure of thick composite laminates. The purpose is to minimize the cure time and maximum temperature overshoot in the cure process by designing the cure temperature profile. This method combines the finite element based thermo-chemical coupled cure simulation with the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). In order to investigate the influence of the number of dwells on the optimization result, four-dwell and two-dwell temperature profiles are selected for the design variables. The optimization method obtains successfully the Pareto optimal front of the multi-objective problem in thick and ultra-thick laminates. The result shows that the cure time and maximum temperature overshoot are both reduced significantly. The optimization result further illustrates that the four-dwell cure profile is more e ective than the two-dwell, especially for the ultra-thick laminates. Through the optimization of the four-dwell profile, the cure time is reduced by 51.0% (thick case) and 30.3% (ultra-thick case) and the maximum temperature overshoot is reduced by 66.9% (thick case) and 73.1% (ultra-thick case) compared with the recommended cure profile. In addition, Self-organizing map (SOM) is employed to visualize the relationships between the design variables with respect to the optimization result.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogesh Gandhi ◽  
Alessandro Pirondi ◽  
Luca Collini

Shape-adaptive or morphing capability in both aerospace structures and wind turbine blade design is regarded as significant to increase aerodynamic performance and simplify mechanisms by reducing the number of moving parts. The underlying bistable behavior of asymmetric cross-ply composites makes them a suitable candidate for morphing applications. To date, various theoretical and experiential studies have been carried out to understand and predict the bistable behavior of asymmetric laminates and especially the curvature obtained in their stable configurations. However, when the bi-stable composite plate is integrated with shape memory alloy wires to control the curvature and to snap from a stable configuration to the other (shape memory alloy composite, SMAC), the identification of the design parameters, namely laminate edge length, ply thickness and ply orientation, is not straightforward. The aim of this article is to present the formulation of an optimization problem for the parameters of an asymmetric composite laminate integrated with pre-stressed shape memory alloys (SMA) wires under bi-stability and a minimum deflection requirement. Wires are modeled as an additional ply placed at the mid-plane of the composite host plate. The optimization problem is solved numerically in MATLAB and optimal design variables are then used to model the SMAC in ABAQUS™. Finite element results are compared against numerical results for validation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Kaveh ◽  
Masoud Rezaei ◽  
MR Shiravand

Large-scale suspendomes are elegant architectural structures which cover a vast area with no interrupting columns in the middle. These domes have attractive shapes which are also economical. Domes are built in a wide variety of forms. In this article, an algorithm is developed for optimum design of domes considering the topology, geometry, and size of member section using the cascade-enhanced colliding bodies optimization method. In large-scale space steel structures, a large number of design variables are involved. The idea of cascade optimization allows a single optimization problem to be tackled in a number of successive autonomous optimization stages. The variables are the optimum height of crown and tubular sections of these domes, the initial strain, the length of the struts, and the cross-sectional areas of the cables in the tensegrity system of domes. The number of joints in each ring and the number of rings are considered for topology optimization of ribbed and Schwedler domes. Weight of the dome is taken as the objective function for minimization. A simple procedure is defined to determine the configuration of the domes. The design constraints are considered according to the provisions of Load and Resistance Factor Design–American Institute of Steel Constitution. In order to investigate the efficiency of the presented method, a large-scale suspendome with more than 2266 members is investigated. Numerical results show that the utilized method is an efficient tool for optimal design of large-scale domes. Additionally, in this article, a topology and geometry optimization for two common ribbed and Schwedler domes are performed to find their optimum graphs considering various spans.


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.


Author(s):  
Juan C. Blanco ◽  
Luis E. Muñoz

The vehicle optimal design is a multi-objective multi-domain optimization problem. Each design aspect must be analyzed by taking into account the interactions present with other design aspects. Given the size and complexity of the problem, the application of global optimization methodologies is not suitable; hierarchical problem decomposition is beneficial for the problem analysis. This paper studies the handling dynamics optimization problem as a sub-problem of the vehicle optimal design. This sub-problem is an important part of the overall vehicle design decomposition. It is proposed that the embodiment design stage can be performed in an optimal viewpoint with the application of the analytical target cascading (ATC) optimization strategy. It is also proposed that the design variables should have sufficient physical significance, but also give the overall design enough design degrees of freedom. In this way, other optimization sub-problems can be managed with a reduced variable redundancy and sub-problem couplings. Given that the ATC strategy is an objective-driven methodology, it is proposed that the objectives of the handling dynamics, which is a sub-problem in the general ATC problem, can be defined from a Pareto optimal set at a higher optimization level. This optimal generation of objectives would lead to an optimal solution as seen at the upper-level hierarchy. The use of a lumped mass handling dynamics model is proposed in order to manage an efficient optimization process based in handling dynamics simulations. This model contains detailed information of the tire properties modeled by the Pacejka tire model, as well as linear characteristics of the suspension system. The performance of this model is verified with a complete multi-body simulation program such as ADAMS/car. The handling optimization problem is presented including the proposed design variables, the handling dynamics simulation model and a case study in which a double wishbone suspension system of an off-road vehicle is analyzed. In the case study, the handling optimization problem is solved by taking into account couplings with the suspension kinematics optimization problem. The solution of this coupled problem leads to the partial geometry definition of the suspension system mechanism.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Peri

PurposeA recursive scheme for the ALIENOR method is proposed as a remedy for the difficulties induced by the method. A progressive focusing on the most promising region, in combination with a variation of the density of the alpha-dense curve, is proposed.Design/methodology/approachALIENOR method is aimed at reducing the space dimensions of an optimization problem by spanning it by using a single alpha-dense curve: the curvilinear abscissa along the curve becomes the only design parameter for any design space. As a counterpart, the transformation of the objective function in the projected space is much more difficult to tackle.FindingsA fine tuning of the procedure has been performed in order to identity the correct balance between the different elements of the procedure. The proposed approach has been tested by using a set of algebraic functions with up to 1,024 design variables, demonstrating the ability of the method in solving large scale optimization problem. Also an industrial application is presented.Originality/valueIn the knowledge of the author there is not a similar paper in the current literature.


1982 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Jones ◽  
J. K. Nelson

The design of a spread mooring system of given pattern with single segment lines on a flat seafloor is formulated as a mathematical programming (optimization) problem. Design variables are the outboard length and initial tension in each line. Constraints limit maximum tension, anchor pull and anchor uplift for each line under each loading condition. Maximum vessel excursion is limited to a circle of specified radius. The optimal design is that which minimizes total weight of outboard line and is obtained by computer solution of the optimization problem. Three examples are presented to demonstrate the method.


1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-509
Author(s):  
Koichi Ito ◽  
Tadashi Kuroiwa ◽  
Shinsuke Akagi

A nonlinear optimization method is proposed to design a linkage mechanism used for opening and shutting a ship’s hatch cover. Considering the maximum force of the oil cylinder necessary to move the hatch cover as the objective function to be minimized, the design problem to determine the optimal configuration of linkage mechanism is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem of minimax type. It it shown that the optimal solution can be derived by adopting the generalized reduced gradient algorithm together with a linkage statical simulation model, and the effectiveness of the algorithm is ascertained through a numerical study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (08) ◽  
pp. 1841004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thang Le-Duc ◽  
Quoc-Hung Nguyen

In this work, a new approach for aerodynamic optimization of horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) airfoil is presented. This technique combines commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes with differential evolution (DE), a reliable gradient-free global optimization method. During the optimization process, commercial CFD codes are used to evaluate aerodynamic characteristics of HAWT airfoil and an improved DE algorithm is utilized to find the optimal airfoil design. The objective of this research is to maximize the aerodynamic coefficients of HAWT airfoil at the design angle of attack (AOA) with specific ambient environment. The airfoil shape is modeled by control points which their coordinates are design variables. The reliability of CFD codes is validated by comparing the analytical results of a typical HAWT airfoil with its experimental data. Finally, the optimal design of wind turbine airfoil is evaluated about aerodynamic performance in comparison with existing airfoils and some discussions are performed.


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