GENERATING OPTIMAL CONFIGURATIONS IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN USING SIMULATED ANNEALING

This paper presents a combinatorial optimization procedure based on the simulated annealing approach for generation of optimal configuration of structural members. The work is based on altering the finite element model of structure by removing or restoring elements to minimize the material use subject to constraints on maximum stress value and maintenance of connectivity between elements. Such an optimization problem is categorized as a large-scale, non-convex and non-linear problem. Thus, the problem can have multi-minima and it is important to find the global optimum solution as opposed to a local minimization. To improve the computational efficiency, the non-linear shape optimization problem has been linearized and to account for the difference between the non-linear and the linearized values a correction factor is implemented. To illustrate the approach, several design examples are presented and the effect of the parameter of the simulated annealing on the final configuration design is examined. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A TWO-LEVEL DECOMPOSITION METHOD FOR SHAPE OPTIMIZATION OF STRUCTURES

The paper proposes a two-level decomposition method for shape optimization of structures. The optimization problem is divided into two subproblems on the basis of the different effects on structural behaviour of different kinds of design variables. A minimum mass subproblem is solved to determine the sizing variables and a constraint evaluation function based on norm optimization is minimized to determine the shape variables. An efficient coupling technique is used between the subproblems to ensure very rapid and steady convergence. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

平面桁架结构拓扑优化设计的改进智能算法

结构拓扑及形状退火算法(STSA)用于桁架结构拓扑优化设计,其优化特点为注重结构构型的改变而较少考虑结构的力学性能,而针对既定几何构型的桁架结构截面优化,满应力准则法(FSD)具有明显优势,因此,将其引入退火历程改进STSA。提出结构几何构型状态相对稳定判别方法,并以结构构型状态相对稳定作为引入FSD的最佳时机形成杂交算法。算例分析表明：该改进智能算法使寻优搜索过程更为稳定,其表现为搜索效率、鲁棒性和最优解均得以改善。     

Optimization of truss topology using tabu search

A design procedure for integrating topological considerations in the framework of structural optimization is presented. The proposed approach is capable of considering multiple load conditions, stress, displacement and local/global buckling constraints, and multiple objective functions in the problem formulation. Further, since the proposed method permits members to be added to or deleted from an existing topology and the topology is not defined by member areas, the difficulty of not being able to reach singular optima is also avoided. These objectives are accomplished using a discrete optimization procedure which uses 0–1 topological variables to optimize alternate designs. Since the topological variables are discrete in nature and the member cross-sections are assumed to be continuous, the topological optimization problem has mixed discrete-continuous variables. This non-linear programming problem is solved using a memory-based combinatorial optimization technique known as tabu search. Numerical results obtained using tabu search for single and multiobjective topological optimization of truss structures are presented. To model the multiple objective functions in the problem formulation, a cooperative game theoretic approach is used. The results indicate that the optimum topologies obtained using tabu search compare favourably, and in some instances, outperform the results obtained using the ground–structure approach. However, this improvement occurs at the expense of a significant increase in computational burden owing to the fact that the proposed approach necessitates that the geometry of each trial topology be optimized.     

OPTIMAL STRUCTURAL TOPOLOGY DESIGN USING THE HOMOGENIZATION METHOD WITH MULTIPLE CONSTRAINTS

In applications of the homogenization method for optimal structural topology design the solution is obtained by solving the optimahty conditions directly. This reduces the computational burden by taking advantage of closed-form solutions but it restricts the optimization model to having only one constraint. The article develops a generalized class of convex approximation methods for mathematical programming that can be used for the optimal topology homogenization problem with multiple constraints in-eluded in the model, without substantial reduction in computational efficiency. A richer class of design models can be then addressed using the hotnogenization method. Design examples illustrate the performance of the proposed solution strategy.     

具有形状和应力约束的连续体结构拓扑优化及其在框架结构设计中的应用

本文研究了在形状和应力约束下的连续体结构拓扑优化问题,采用满应力法求解保证了应力约束的满足;根据对形状的要求,固定部分单元不被删除,强迫最优拓扑满足设计要求。对框架结构进行了计算,结果表明了算法的正确性。     

周期性扩大框架的渐进结构优化方法研究

传统渐进结构优化法(ESO)删除的低效材料,仅是阶段性的低效材料,其中部分材料若不被删除,有可能成为后续优化中的非低效材料。误删材料可能使接下来的优化成为将错就错的优化。该文在ESO法基础上提出的周期性扩大框架的渐进结构优化方法(PEFESO),周期性地恢复并检查保留材料周围被删除材料的效率,重新判定该部分材料是否应被恢复到结构中,有效地削弱了ESO法可能误删材料的不良影响。PEFESO法具备一定的全程寻优能力,计算结果优于传统的ESO法,易于在工程中推广使用。     

开孔深梁压杆-拉杆模型构造

深梁是受力较为复杂的构件,特别是开孔深梁的传力机制还有待进一步研究。采用优化的方法构造深梁的压杆-拉杆模型是近年来研究的新思路,该文选择寻优能力较强的拓扑优化方法--遗传演化结构优化算法,建立能反映开孔深梁真实传力机理的压杆-拉杆模型,以一个对称开洞的简支梁为例,计算了孔洞的大小不同、位置不同时的压杆-拉杆模型,并与经典的优化设计准则Michell准则比较来验证压杆-拉杆模型的合理性。另外,以一个偏洞口深梁为例,讨论不同荷载作用下开孔深梁的压杆-拉杆模型,该文的研究证明遗传演化算法可方便地构造开孔深梁的压杆-拉杆模型,其所建立的模型能为工程设计提供有益的参考。     

Multi-objective system reliability-based optimization method for design of a fully parametric concept car body

This article investigates multi-objective optimization under reliability constraints with applications in vehicle structural design. To improve computational efficiency, an improved multi-objective system reliability-based design optimization (MOSRBDO) method is developed, and used to explore the lightweight and high-performance design of a concept car body under uncertainty. A parametric model knowledge base is established, followed by the construction of a fully parametric concept car body of a multi-purpose vehicle (FPCCB-MPV) based on the knowledge base. The structural shape, gauge and topology optimization are then designed on the basis of FPCCB-MPV. The numerical implementation of MOSRBDO employs the double-loop method with design optimization in the outer loop and system reliability analysis in the inner loop. Multi-objective particle swarm optimization is used as the outer loop optimization solver. An improved multi-modal radial-based importance sampling (MRBIS) method is utilized as the system reliability solver for multi-constraint analysis in the inner loop. The accuracy and efficiency of the MRBIS method are demonstrated on three widely used test problems. In conclusion, MOSRBDO has been successfully applied for the design of a full parametric concept car body. The results show that the improved MOSRBDO method is more effective and efficient than the traditional MOSRBDO while achieving the same accuracy, and that the optimized body-in-white structure signifies a noticeable improvement from the baseline model.     

Voigt–Reuss topology optimization for structures with linear elastic material behaviours

The desired results of variable topology material layout computations are stable and discrete material distributions that optimize the performance of structural systems. To achieve such material layout designs a continuous topology design framework based on hybrid combinations of classical Reuss (compliant) and Voigt (stiff) mixing rules is investigated. To avoid checkerboarding instabilities, the continuous topology optimization formulation is coupled with a novel spatial filtering procedure. The issue of obtaining globally optimal discrete layout designs with the proposed formulation is investigated using a continuation method which gradually transitions from the stiff Voigt formulation to the compliant Reuss formulation. The very good performance of the proposed methods is demonstrated on four structural topology design optimization problems from the literature. © 1997 John Wiley & sons, Ltd.     

横向力作用下的悬臂桁架结构拓扑优化

研究了应力约束下最小重量悬臂梁桁架结构的拓扑优化设计。根据Michell理论,首先用解析方法和有限元方法建立满应力类桁架连续体结构。然后选择其中部分杆件形成离散桁架作为近最优结构,并建立桁架的拓扑优化解析表达式。采用解析方法证明最优拓扑结构的腹杆中间结点在节长的四分之一位置。最后采用解析和数值方法对自由端受集中力和侧边受均布力作用的桁架进一步拓扑优化,确定了桁架的节数和每节的长度,最后得到拓扑优化桁架结构。得到的拓扑优化桁架比工程上普遍采用的45°腹杆桁架的体积少20%以上。     

基于双向渐进结构优化的叶片锻件预成形设计

为了实现体积成形的预成形优化设计,基于双向渐进结构(BESO)优化的思想,提出了一种针对体积成形预成形设计的新方法——拓扑优化法,并详细给出了该方法的优化策略、单元增删准则、插值处理等关键技术.利用自行开发的优化程序,结合DEFORM-2D有限元模拟软件,以理想充填模腔、最小飞边状态为目标,以静水压力的大小作为单元的增删准则,从毛坯的欠填充状态出发,对二维叶片锻件的预成形结构进行了优化设计.优化结果表明:该方法算法原理清晰明确,实现方便,整个过程集成化后,从模拟到优化均可实现自动进行,运行效率高,并具有较高的优化精度.