AN INTERACTIVE HYBRID (SYMBOLIC-NUMERIC) SYSTEM APPROACH TO NEAR OPTIMAL DESIGN OF MECHANICAL COMPONENTS

A hybrid (symbolic-numeric) system, referred to as OPTDEX, (OPTIMAL DESIGN EXPERT) for the optimal design or mechanical components and systems has been developed. The system is written in Golden Common LISP and IBM Professional (Ryan-McFarland) FORTRAN for execution on the IBM PC/AT microcomputer. Graphical output has been implemented using the Graphical Kernel System (GKS) standard. This microcomputer-based implementation makes the system particularly attractive as an easily accessible, low cost engineering analysis and design tool.

Experience with the system indicates that the time required to achieve, at least, partially optimized engineering design solutions is similar to that which may be expected with standard, nonoptimization-based, microcomputer computation. Any added computational time may be justified and subsequently offset by increased long term design efficacy.