Robust optimization of structures subjected to stochastic earthquake with limited information on system parameter uncertainty

The optimization of structures subjected to stochastic earthquake and characterized by uncertain parameters is usually posed in the form of non-linear programming with stochastic performance measures where the uncertain parameters are modelled as random variables. Such an approach, however, cannot be adopted in many real life situations when the limited information about uncertainty can be only modelled as of the uncertain but bounded (UBB) type. A robust optimization strategy for stochastic dynamic systems characterized by UBB parameters is proposed in the present study in the framework of the response surface method (RSM). In evaluating the stochastic constraints, repeated computations of the dynamic responses are avoided by applying an adaptive RSM based on the moving least squares method. Numerical results are presented to highlight the effectiveness of the proposed procedure. The effect of parameter uncertainty is also studied by comparing the results obtained from the proposed optimization approach with the conventional stochastic optimization results.     

Composites structural modelling with uncertain data

The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology to take into account the influence of uncertain data in structural calculations. A specific method, based on the approximation of the responses as a function of the uncertain data, is proposed. Classical methods from the literature are also considered. The different methods are compared on a simple example in terms of response (average value and standard deviation) and in terms of computational cost. The method proposed in the present work permits to estimate correctly the whole response and is very simple to use (pre and post processing). This method is applied to a structural calculation on a “hat-shapes” part called, manufactured in the quasi-isotropic IM7/977-2 composite.     

Project management for uncertainty with multiple objectives optimisation of time,cost and reliability

This research adopts an approach that uses computer simulation and statistical analysis of uncertain activity time, activity cost, due date and project budget to address quality and the learning process with regard to project scheduling. Since the learning process affects the scheduling problem, a Cobb–Douglas multiplicative power model is used to represent the relationship between the dependent variable, which is the standard deviation of activity time, and the independent variables, which are the cumulative trials and the mean of activity time. The mean value and standard deviation are used to randomly generate activity times for project scheduling analysis. Response surface methodology (RSM) is used in order to develop a rationale of the time-cost trade-off problem. The solutions found with RSM are optimised only for a single objective, such as project completion time, total project cost, completion time probability and total cost probability. Thus, multiple objectives for further optimisation become necessary and a limited project budget, restricted completion time, allowable total cost probability and acceptable completion time probability have to be considered at the same time as the learning effect. With response functions from RSM, compromise programming is adopted in order to formulate the proposed project scheduling problem for multi-objective optimisation.     

A response surface method based on weighted regression for structural reliability analysis

Approximation methods such as the response surface method (RSM) are widely used to alleviate the computational burden of engineering analyses. For reliability analysis, the common approach in the RSM is to use regression methods based on least square methods. However, for structural reliability problems, RSMs should approximate the performance function around the design point where its value is close to zero. Therefore, in this study, a new response surface called ADAPRES is proposed, in which a weighted regression method is applied in place of normal regression. The experimental points are also selected from the region where the design point is most likely to exist. Examples are given to demonstrate the benefit of the proposed method for both numerical and implicit performance functions.     

A two-step method for analysis of linear systems with uncertain parameters driven by Gaussian noise

A two-step method is proposed to find state properties for linear dynamic systems driven by Gaussian noise with uncertain parameters modeled as a random vector with known probability distribution. First, equations of linear random vibration are used to find the probability law of the state of a system with uncertain parameters conditional on this vector. Second, stochastic reduced order models (SROMs) are employed to calculate properties of the unconditional system state. Bayesian methods are applied to extend the proposed approach to the case when the probability law of the random vector is not available. Various examples are provided to demonstrate the usefulness of the method, including the random vibration response of a spacecraft with uncertain damping model.     

Simultaneous optimization of the microextraction of coffee volatiles using response surface methodology and principal component analysis

It is well known that no single experimental condition can be found under which the extraction of all the volatile compounds in a gas chromatographic analysis of roasted coffee beans by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is maximized. This is due to the large number of peaks recorded. In this work, the scores vector of the first principal component obtained from PCA on chromatographic peak areas was used as the response to find the optimal conditions for simultaneous optimization of coffee volatiles extraction via response surface methodology (RSM). This strategy consists in compressing several highly correlated peak areas into a single response variable for a central composite design (CCD). RSM was used to identify an optimal factor combination that reflects a compromise between the partially conflicting behavior of the volatiles groups. This simultaneous optimization approach was compared with the desirability function method. The versatility of the PCA-RSM methodology allows it to be used in other chromatographic applications, resulting in an interpretable procedure to solve new analytical problems.     

Predictive modelling of turning operations using response surface methodology,artificial neural networks and support vector regression

This paper focuses on developing empirical models for predicting surface roughness, tool wear and power required in turning operations. These response parameters are mainly dependent upon cutting velocity, feed and cutting time. Three competing data mining techniques, response surface methodology (RSM), artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR), are applied in developing the empirical models. The data of 27 experiments have been used to generate, compare and evaluate the proposed models of tool wear, power required and surface roughness for the selected tool/material combination. Testing results demonstrate that the models developed in this research are suitable for predicting the response parameters with a satisfactory goodness of fit. It has been found that ANN and SVR models are much better than regression and RSM models for predicting the three response parameters. Finally, some future research directions are outlined.     

基于支持向量机的小样本响应曲面法研究

当影响因素和响应输出的关系较为复杂时,应用传统响应曲面法(RSM)、非参数响应曲面法(NPRSM)和人工神经网络(ANN)难以拟合真实的响应曲面,不仅需要大的样本量,而且泛化风险大,不易达到全局最优.将RSM归结为可有限制地主动获取样本的小样本机器学习问题,提出了一种基于支持向量机(SVM)的RSM.以大间隔网格取样,利用SVM拟合过程,对拟合方程寻优确定极值大致区域,再逐步缩小间隔求精.算例研究表明,该方法的拟合与泛化性能优于NPRSM和基于ANN的RSM,能在小样本条件下建立全局性数值模型,寻优可以得到多个极值.     

Robust parameter design using a supersaturated design for a response surface model

Recently, the application of response surface methodology (RSM) to robust parameter design has attracted a great deal of attention. In some cases, experiments are very expensive and may require a great deal of time to perform. Central composite designs (CCDs) and Box and Behnken designs (BBDs), which are commonly used for RSM, may lead to an unacceptably large number of experimental runs. In this paper, a supersaturated design for RSM is constructed and its application to robust parameter design is proposed. A response surface model is fitted using data from the designed experiment and a stepwise variable selection. An illustrative example is presented to show that the proposed method considerably reduces the number of experimental runs, as compared with CCDs and BBDs. Numerical experiments are also conducted in which type I and II error rates are evaluated. The results imply that the proposed method may be effective for finding the effects (i.e. main effects, two‐factor interactions, and pure quadratic effects) of active factors under the ‘effect sparsity’ assumption. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

结构可靠度分析中的改进响应面法及其应用

在以响应面法分析结构可靠度中,提出了一种区别于通常以插值点为中心展开生成样本点组的新方法:在求解过程中,用插值点逐步替代初始样本点组中距离验算点较远的点,目的是使所选取的样本点集中于真实极限状态曲面上的验算点附近,重新构成下一轮迭代所需的一组样本点,直至满足收敛条件。算例表明,采用新方法可使结构的分析次数显著减少,并改善了对非线性程度较高的极限功能函数求解可靠指标的收敛性。同时,将该方法应用于一座拟建自锚式斜拉-悬吊体系桥正常使用极限状态下的可靠度分析中。     

偏最小二乘回归在响应面法可靠度分析中的应用

针对目前多维变量可靠度问题中广泛应用的均匀设计响应面法,分析了采用最小二乘法拟合样本数据回归模型时存在的局限性,并在已有方法的基础上提出了一种改进的方法。该方法将均匀设计与偏最小二乘回归技术相结合来回归响应面模型,从而计算结构的失效概率,有效的解决了变量间多重相关性及小样本条件下建立回归模型的问题。通过算例验证了该方法的适用性,尤其对于高维变量的可靠度问题,与最小二乘拟合响应面相比,计算结果更加精确。     

An efficient response surface method using moving least squares approximation for structural reliability analysis

The response surface method (RSM) is widely adopted for structural reliability analysis because of its numerical efficiency. However, the RSM is time consuming for large-scale applications and sometimes shows large errors in the calculation of the sensitivity of the reliability index with respect to random variables. In order to overcome these problems, this study proposes an efficient RSM applying a moving least squares (MLS) approximation instead of the traditional least squares approximation generally used in the RSM. The MLS approximation gives higher weight to the experimental points closer to the most probable failure point (MPFP), which allows the response surface function (RSF) to be closer to the limit state function at the MPFP. In the proposed method, a linear RSF is constructed at first and a quadratic RSF is formed using the axial experimental points selected from the reduced region where the MPFP is likely to exist. The RSF is updated successively by adding one new experimental point to the previous set of experimental points. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the improved accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed method compared to the conventional RSM.     

引入不确定参数的汽车盘式制动器振动稳定性分析

针对汽车制动器的噪声抑制问题,基于可靠性分析理论,将蒙特卡洛法与响应面法相结合,提出了一种汽车盘式制动器系统振动稳定性的可靠性分析方法。该方法针对制动噪声产生具有不确定性的特点,引入随机和区间不确定性参数对制动器系统进行描述,建立包含随机参数和区间参数的制动器不稳定特征值的响应面近似模型,进而采用Sobol′全局灵敏度分析法和蒙特卡洛法分别对不确定参数的全局灵敏度和系统稳定性的可靠度进行分析。用该方法对某车的浮钳盘式制动器系统进行研究,分析了系统稳定性的可靠度和不确定参数的全局灵敏度,甄别了不确定性参数对系统稳定性的影响,并从可靠性角度提出了改善制动器系统振动稳定性的工程措施。     

An uncertain multidisciplinary design optimization method using interval convex models

This article proposes an uncertain multi-objective multidisciplinary design optimization methodology, which employs the interval model to represent the uncertainties of uncertain-but-bounded parameters. The interval number programming method is applied to transform each uncertain objective function into two deterministic objective functions, and a satisfaction degree of intervals is used to convert both the uncertain inequality and equality constraints to deterministic inequality constraints. In doing so, an unconstrained deterministic optimization problem will be constructed in association with the penalty function method. The design will be finally formulated as a nested three-loop optimization, a class of highly challenging problems in the area of engineering design optimization. An advanced hierarchical optimization scheme is developed to solve the proposed optimization problem based on the multidisciplinary feasible strategy, which is a well-studied method able to reduce the dimensions of multidisciplinary design optimization problems by using the design variables as independent optimization variables. In the hierarchical optimization system, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II, sequential quadratic programming method and Gauss–Seidel iterative approach are applied to the outer, middle and inner loops of the optimization problem, respectively. Typical numerical examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.     

A novel approach based on ALE and delamination fracture mechanics for multilayered composite beams

A novel approach able to predict debonding or fracture phenomena in multilayered composite beams is proposed. The structural model is based on the first-order shear deformable laminated beam theory and moving mesh strategy developed in the framework of Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation. The former is utilized to evaluate fracture parameters by using a multilayer approach, in which a low number of interface elements are introduced along the thickness, whereas the latter is utilized to reproduce crack tip motion due to the crack extension produced by moving boundaries. The model is able to avoid computational complexities introduced by an explicit crack representation in bi-dimensional structures, in which typically high computational efforts are expected for handling moving boundaries. To this aim, a moving mesh strategy is proposed for the first time in the context of beam modeling based on a multilayered configuration. Such an approach, essentially based on ALE formulation, is able to reproduce interfacial crack paths by using a low number of computational elements. The numerical method is proposed in the framework of the finite element formulation for a quasi-static or dynamic evolution of the crack tip front. In order to investigate the accuracy and to validate the proposed methodology, comparisons with experimental data and existing formulations available from the literature are developed. Moreover, a parametric study in the framework of dynamic fracture is developed to investigate the capability of the proposed model to reproduce more complex loading cases.     

A method of steepest ascent for multiresponse surface optimization using a desirability function method

Multiresponse problems are common in product or process development. A conventional approach for optimizing multiple responses is to use a response surface methodology (RSM), and this approach is called multiresponse surface optimization (MRSO). In RSM, the method of steepest ascent is widely used for searching for an optimum region where a response is improved. In MRSO, it is difficult to directly apply the method of steepest ascent because MRSO includes several responses to be considered. This paper suggests a new method of steepest ascent for MRSO, which accounts for tradeoffs between multiple responses. It provides several candidate paths of steepest ascent and allows a decision maker to select the most preferred path. This generation and selection procedure is helpful to better understand the tradeoffs between the multiple responses, and ultimately, it moves the experimental region to a good region where a satisfactory compromise solution exists. A hypothetical example is employed for illustrating the proposed procedure. The results of this case study show that the proposed method searches the region containing an optimum where a satisfactory compromise solution exists.     

Constitutive modelling of fibre-reinforced composites with unidirectional plies using a plasticity-based approach

This paper presents the development of a constitutive model able to accurately represent the full non-linear mechanical response of polymer-matrix fibre-reinforced composites with unidirectional (UD) plies under quasi-static loading. This is achieved by utilising an elasto-plastic modelling framework. The model captures key features that are often neglected in constitutive modelling of UD composites, such as the effect of hydrostatic pressure on both the elastic and non-elastic material response, the effect of multiaxial loading and dependence of the yield stress on the applied pressure.The constitutive model includes a novel yield function which accurately represents the yielding of the matrix within a unidirectional fibre-reinforced composite by removing the dependence on the stress in the fibre direction. A non-associative flow rule is used to capture the pressure sensitivity of the material. The experimentally observed translation of subsequent yield surfaces is modelled using a non-linear kinematic hardening rule. Furthermore, evolution laws are proposed for the non-linear hardening that relate to the applied hydrostatic pressure.Multiaxial test data is used to show that the model is able to predict the non-linear response under complex loading combinations, given only the experimental response from two uniaxial tests.     

复合随机振动分析的混合PC-PEM方法

由于加工、制造等原因,实际结构系统往往所具有很多不确定性,准确评估随机系统的动力学行为不仅具有实际意义,而且是近年来结构动力学理论的一个研究热点。本文研究了同时考虑结构模型参数与所受外激励载荷具有不确定性的复合随机振动问题。结构模型参数的不确定性采用随机变量模拟,外激励载荷的不确定性采用随机过程模拟,提出了结构随机振动响应评估的混合混沌多项式-虚拟激励(PC-PEM)方法。数值算例研究了参数不确定性在21杆桁架中的传播,讨论了响应的一阶、二阶统计矩,并同蒙特卡洛方法进行对比表明提出方法的正确性和有效性。本文的工作对于考虑不确定的复杂装备与结构系统的随机振动分析具有很好的借鉴意义。     

Computer Vision Based Non-contact Surface Roughness Assessment Using Wavelet Transform and Response Surface Methodology

This paper describes a new non-contact measurement approach in characterizing manufactured surfaces. Computer vision is applied to capture digital images of three types of anisotropic steel specimen surfaces from shaping, grinding, and polishing processes. Multiresolution wavelet decomposition is used to obtain signatures of surface profiles from the digital images. Relationships between these signatures and surface roughness parameters (Ra and Rq) are built by response surface methodology (RSM). The proposed models thus developed are suitable for predicting roughness in terms of the roughness parameters. Experimental results show that the proposed approach successfully correlates wavelet signals to Ra and Rq values. In addition, they also show repeatable gage capabilities. The proposed method is a good candidate for on-line, real-time surface roughness inspection when specimens of known surface roughness are available.     

Tooling geometry optimization for compensation of cure-induced distortions of a curved carbon/epoxy C-spar

The respect of the manufacturing tolerances is a challenging issue due to the complex distortions caused by the curing process, being sometimes a major obstacle to an increasing use of composites in aeronautics. The cure-induced distortions are modeled and mitigated owing to the development of a computational mold compensation strategy. An in-house surrogate-based optimizer coupled to three-dimensional curing simulations, is used to iteratively alter the shape of the mold in order to minimize the discrepancy with respect to the nominal geometry. Two parametrization strategies are proposed and applied to a generic curved C-spar geometry. One strategy consists in the characterization of the major distortion modes caused by the curing process, and in the parametrization of the geometry to compensate for each mode. The other strategy is to select a number of control points which can move freely in space to find the optimal configuration. Each method performs well but in a different manner, and the optimal choice depends on the industrial specifications of the problem.