SUMMARYIn this paper a new concept for development of algorithms for optimal design of engineering systems is presented. The basic idea is to use upper and lower bounds on optimum cost to develop iterative search strategies. The main feature of the concept is that it does not rely on one-dimensional search to compute a step size at any design iteration. Implication of the feature is that the algorithms based on this concept require evaluation of constraint functions only once at any design iteration. This is highly desirable for optimal design of engineering systems because evaluation of functions for such systems is very expensive due to their implicit dependence on design variables. An algorithm based on the new concept is derived in the paper. Several new step sizes are introduced and their relation to proper reduced optimal design problems are presented. A new step size based on the constant cost requirement at some design iterations is introduced. Numerical aspects for the algorithm are also presented. Based on the new algorithm, a general-purpose computer code GRP2 is developed. The code is used to solve several problems to gain experience and insight for the algorithm. Numerical experience with examples is discussed. It is concluded that algorithms based on bounding optimum cost have substantial potential for applications in optimal design of engineering systems.

SUMMARYThe design of a composite laminate involves the determination of layer thicknesses and orientation angles. The problem is posed as the optimum weight (or volume) design of composite laminates which withstand the specified loads without failure. The modified Hill-Mises or Tsai-Wu failure criterion is taken as a constraint, each layer being subjected to this criterion. The design variables considered are the layer thicknesses and orientation angles. Based on the finite-element analysis capability of composite laminates provided by NISA 11. a composite laminate optimization procedure has been developed. Nonlinear optimization techniques are used to approach the optimum design of the composite laminates. Efficient design sensitivity analysis procedures are implemented based on the direct differentiation and adjoint variable methods. Example problems illustrate that the program offers an efficient and practical design tool for composite laminates.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract