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8 views2 pages

Hw1-Me 517

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1085236834cax
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ME 517 Optimization in Design – Fall 2024

Homework #1 Due: 10/11/24

1. Consult any engineering textbook (except one that is about optimization!) and find an example problem or
end-of-the-chapter problem that you can reformulate as an optimization problem. For example, the spring
example I show in class may have come from a textbook question such as…

An automatically opening umbrella contains a spring to open the canopy


when the user unlatches a trigger on the handle (see Figure 1.1). The spring
has a wire diameter of 1/16 in.; 8.5 active coils that have a diameter of ¾
in.; and is constructed from ASTM A232. When the umbrella is open, the
spring experiences the least applied load of 5 lbs, and when it is closed it is
compressed an additional 1.5 in. What is the spring’s static yielding safety
factor?

In that same spirit, write a description on how to formulate your chosen problem as an optimization problem.
You can be creative in expanding the problem by setting known values as unknown design variables or by
including new variables, constraints, and performance parameters. In choosing a problem, include 4 (or more)
design variables and at least 4 constraints (equality or inequality is fine). In the homework submission,
include/answer the following:
a. A copy of the original problem and its reference (just the name and author of the book)
b. A table similar to table shown in lecture 1 in the course including: 1) knowns, givens, or constants, 2) design
or decision variables, 3) dependent parameters, and 4) performance metrics
c. Put the problem in negative null form. Briefly describe equality constraints and inequality constraints.
d. Discuss the challenges and open issues with this problem (words – 500 ≤ 0). For example, do you think some
of the design variables may want to go to 0 or infinity?
Grading for a to d (60% of assignment) will be collectively done with the following rubric:
20% PC Problem Choice. How correct and/or creative is it as an optimization problem.
10% COMP Composition: Clarity, English grammar, sensible conclusion
30% MS Mathematical Soundness: Are the assumptions correct? Are the equations correct?

2. (15%) Graphical Method Analysis: Arora text book problem 3.8


3. (25%) Graphical Method Analysis: Arora text book problem 3.22
For problems 2 and 3, use Matlab or Python to create the graphs. To answer the questions, include the graphs
and report the objective function value and optimizer values for each problem. Attach your code at the end of
the HW.

Hints for problem 3 (Arora 3.22):

• Moment of Inertia (I) for a tube: The book doesn't provide this but use: (pi/4)*(Ro^4 - Ri^4).
• Avoid dividing by zero in the constraints: Notice that the constraints have moment of inertia I in the
denominator. This could lead to a divide by zero issue when Ro = Ri. To avoid this, note that when you are
plotting your constraint, you are plotting an equation of the general form "(a/b) -c = 0", where in this case
"b" is the moment of inertia which can go to zero. Multiply through by "b" to reformulate this to the
mathematically equivalent expression "a - bc = 0". Now there is no denominator that can go to zero!

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