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Optimum Design Problem Formulation Process

This document outlines the 5 step process for formulating an optimization problem: 1) Describe the project goals and requirements 2) Gather required data and information 3) Define independent design variables 4) Establish an objective function to minimize or maximize 5) Define constraints on the design It then provides an example of using this process to formulate the optimal design of a cantilever beam to minimize mass subject to stress, deflection, and other constraints.

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110 views

Optimum Design Problem Formulation Process

This document outlines the 5 step process for formulating an optimization problem: 1) Describe the project goals and requirements 2) Gather required data and information 3) Define independent design variables 4) Establish an objective function to minimize or maximize 5) Define constraints on the design It then provides an example of using this process to formulate the optimal design of a cantilever beam to minimize mass subject to stress, deflection, and other constraints.

Uploaded by

asd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Optimum Design Problem Formulation process

Five steps to develop a mathematical formulation for the design optimization problem.

Step 1: Project/Problem Description

Are the Project Goals Clear?


The formulation process begins by developing a descriptive statement for the project/
problem, usually by the project’s owner/sponsor. The statement describes the overall
objectives of the project and the requirements to be met. This is also called the statement
of work.

Step 2: Data and Information Collection

Is all the Information Available to Solve the Problem?


To develop a mathematical formulation for the problem, we need to gather information
on material properties, performance requirements, resource limits, cost of raw materials,
and so forth.
In addition, most problems require the capability to analyze trial designs. Therefore,
analysis procedures and analysis tools must be identified at this stage.
For example, the finite element method is commonly used for analysis of structures, so
the software tool available for such an analysis needs to be identified. In many cases, the
project statement is vague, and assumptions about modeling of the problem need to be
made in order to formulate and solve it.

Step 3: Definition of Design Variables

What are these Variables?


HOW DO I IDENTIFY THEM?

The next step in the formulation process is to identify a set of variables that describe
the system, called the design variables. In general, these are referred to as optimization
variables or simply variables that are regarded as free because we should be able to assign
any value to them. Different values for the variables produce different designs. The
design variables should be independent of each other as far as possible. If they are
dependent, their values cannot be specified independently because there are constraints
between them. The number of independent design variables gives the design degrees of
freedom for the problem.
➢ Generally, the design variables should be independent of each other. If they are
not, there must be some equality constraints between them.
➢ A minimum number of design variables is required to properly formulate a
design optimization problem.
➢ As many independent parameters as possible should be designated as design
variables at the problem formulation phase. Later on, some of these variables
can be assigned fixed numerical values.
➢ A numerical value should be given to each identified design variable to
determine if a trial design of the system is specified.

Step 4: Optimization Criterion

How Do I Know that My Design is the Best?

There can be many feasible designs for a system, and some are better than others. The
question is how do we quantify this statement and designate a design as better than
another.
For this, we must have a criterion that associates a number with each design. This way,
the merit of a given design is specified. The criterion must be a scalar function whose
numerical value can be obtained once a design is specified; that is, it must be a function
of the design variable vector x.
Such a criterion is usually called an objective function for the optimum design
problem, and it needs to be maximized or minimized depending on problem
requirements.

Some common objective functions are cost (to be minimized), profit (to be maximized),
weight (to be minimized), energy expenditure (to be minimized), and ride quality of a
vehicle (to be maximized).

Step 5: Formulation of Constraints

What Restrictions Do I have on My Design?

All restrictions placed on the design are collectively called constraints. The final step
in the formulation process is to identify all constraints and develop expressions for them.
Most realistic systems must be designed and fabricated with the given resources and
must meet performance requirements.
For example,
structural members should not fail under normal operating loads.
The vibration frequencies of a structure must be different from the operating frequency of
the machine it supports; otherwise, resonance can occur and cause catastrophic failure,
and so on.
EXAMPLE: DESIGN OF A CANTILEVER BEAM,
Step1: PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

Consider the design of a hollow square cross-section cantilever beam to support a load
of 20 KN at its end. The beam, made of steel, is 2 m long, as shown in Figure.
The failure conditions for the beam are as follows:
(1) The material should not fail under the action of the load, and
(2) The deflection of the free end should be no more than 1 cm.
(3) The width-to-thickness ratio for the beam should be no more than 8 to avoid local
buckling of the walls.
(4) A minimum-mass beam is desired.
(5) The width and thickness of the beam must be within the following limits:

60 ≤ width ≤ 300 mm

3 ≤ thickness ≤ 15 mm

Step 2: DATA AND INFORMATION COLLECTION FOR CANTILEVER BEAM

The information needed for the cantilever beam design problem includes expressions for
bending and shear stresses, and the expression for the deflection of the free end. The
notation and data for this purpose are defined in Table.
The following are useful expressions for the beam:
Step 3: DESIGN VARIABLES FOR CANTILEVER BEAM

Only dimensions of the cross-section are identified as design variables for the
cantilever beam design problem; all other parameters are specified:
w = outside width (depth) of the section, mm
t = wall thickness, mm

To demonstrate calculation of various analysis quantities, let us select a trial design as w


= 60 mm and t = 10 mm and calculate the quantities
Step 4: OPTIMIZATION CRITERION FOR CANTILEVER BEAM

For the design problem in Example, the objective is to design a minimum-mass


cantilever beam. Since the mass is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the beam,
the objective function for the problem is taken as the cross-sectional area which is to be minimized:

Step 5: CONSTRAINTS FOR CANTILEVER BEAM

Using various expressions given, we formulate the constraints for the cantilever beam
design problem as follows:
Formulation for optimum design of a cantilever beam.

Thus, the optimization problem is to find w and t to minimize the cost function subject
to the eight inequality constraints.

Using the quantities calculated, let us check the status of the constraints for the cantilever
beam design problem at the trial design point w = 60 mm and t = 10 mm:

In addition, the width w is at its allowed minimum value and the thickness t is within its
allowed value. This trial design violates bending stress and deflection constraints and
therefore it is not a feasible design for the problem.

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