Robustness of mechanical systems against uncertainties

In this paper, one can propose a method which takes into account the propagation of uncertainties in the finite element models in a multi-objective optimization procedure. This method is based on the coupling of stochastic response surface method (SRSM) and a genetic algorithm provided with a new robustness criterion. The SRSM is based on the use of stochastic finite element method (SFEM) via the use of the polynomial chaos expansion (PC). Thus, one can avoid the use of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) whose costs become prohibitive in the optimization problems, especially when the finite element models are large and have a considerable number of design parameters.The objective of this study is on one hand to quantify efficiently the effects of these uncertainties on the responses variability or the cost functions which one wishes to optimize and on the other hand, to calculate solutions which are both optimal and robust with respect to the uncertainties of design parameters.In order to study the propagation of input uncertainties on the mechanical structure responses and the robust multi-objective optimization with respect to these uncertainty, two numerical examples were simulated. The results which relate to the quantification of the uncertainty effects on the responses variability were compared with those obtained by the reference method (REF) using MCS and with those of the deterministic response surfaces methodology (RSM).In the same way, the robust multi-objective optimization results resulting from the SRSM method were compared with those obtained by the direct optimization considered as reference (REF) and with RSM methodology.The SRSM method application to the response variability study and the robust multi-objective optimization gave convincing results.     

An efficient optimization method for mechanical shells considering cut-outs

In this contribution an optimization method for shell structures is presented. This method was developed in order to perform a simultaneous optimization of the shape and position of the mid surface and a topology optimization to introduce cut-outs. A topology optimization method for continuum structures is combined with a manufacturing constraint for deep drawable sheet metals. It is shown, how more than a million design variables can be handled efficiently using a mathematical optimization algorithm for the design update and the finite element method for the structural simulation. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Evolutionary structural optimization for problems with stiffness constraints

This paper presents a simple evolutionary procedure based on finite element analysis to minimize the weight of structures while satisfying stiffness requirements. At the end of each finite element analysis, a sensitivity number, indicating the change in the stiffness due to removal of each element, is calculated and elements which make the least change in the stiffness; of a structure are subsequently removed from the structure. The final design of a structure may have its weight significantly reduced while the displacements at prescribed locations are kept within the given limits. The proposed method is capable of performing simultaneous shape and topology optimization. A wide range of problems including those with multiple displacement constraints, multiple load cases and moving loads are considered. It is shown that existing solutions of structural optimization with stiffness constraints can easily be reproduced by this proposed simple method. In addition some original shape and layout optimization results are presented.     

两点边值问题有限元重构导数超强收敛性

基于两点边值问题 ,本文在改进的单元正交估计和连续性优化的基础上 ,研究了一种n次有限元单元块导数重构 ,该方法所获得的重构导数在单元块内部有n- 1个强超收敛点 .     

基于离散变量的拓扑优化方法

单元敏度的不准确估计是离散拓扑优化算法数值不稳定的原因之一,特别是添加材料时,传统的敏度计算公式给出的估计误差较大,甚至有时估计符号都是错误的．为了克服这一问题,通过对弹性平衡增量方程的摄动分析构造了新的增量敏度估计公式．这一新的公式无论是添加材料还是删除材料都能较准确地估计出目标函数增量,它可以看作是通过非局部单元刚度阵对传统敏度分析公式的修正．以此为基础构建了一种基于离散变量的拓扑优化算法,它可以从任意单元上添加或删除材料以使目标函数减小,同时为避免优化过程中重新划分网格,采用了单元软杀策略以小刚度材料模拟空单元．这一方法的主要优点是简单,不需要太多的数学计算,特别有利于工程实际的应用．     

On Solution to an Optimal Shape Design Problem in 3-Dimensional Linear Magnetostatics

In this paper we present theoretical, computational, and practical aspects concerning 3-dimensional shape optimization governed by linear magnetostatics. The state solution is approximated by the finite element method using Nédélec elements on tetrahedra. Concerning optimization, the shape controls the interface between the air and the ferromagnetic parts while the whole domain is fixed. We prove the existence of an optimal shape. Then we state a finite element approximation to the optimization problem and prove the convergence of the approximated solutions. In the end, we solve the problem for the optimal shape of an electromagnet that arises in the research on magnetooptic effects and that was manufactured afterwards.     

An alternating direction method of multipliers for elliptic equation constrained optimization problem

We propose an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) for solving the state constrained optimization problems governed by elliptic equations. The unconstrained as well as box-constrained cases of the Dirichlet boundary control, Robin boundary control, and right-hand side control problems are considered here. These continuous optimization problems are transformed into discrete optimization problems by the finite element method discretization, then are solved by ADMM. The ADMM is an efficient first order algorithm with global convergence, which combines the decomposability of dual ascent with the superior convergence properties of the method of multipliers. We shall present exhaustive convergence analysis of ADMM for these different type optimization problems. The numerical experiments are performed to verify the efficiency of the method.     

Finite Element Analysis of Free Material Optimization Problem

Free material optimization solves an important problem of structural engineering, i.e. to find the stiffest structure for given loads and boundary conditions. Its mathematical formulation leads to a saddle-point problem. It can be solved numerically by the finite element method. The convergence of the finite element method can be proved if the spaces involved satisfy suitable approximation assumptions. An example of a finite-element discretization is included.     

基于群体一致性的犹豫模糊多属性决策方法

犹豫模糊集允许一个元素属于一个集合的隶属度可以是多个不同的值,是表达决策者之间偏好不一致性的有力工具。针对决策者评价偏差不宜过大的问题,提出了一种基于群体一致性的犹豫模糊多属性决策方法。首先, 我们定义了犹豫模糊元的犹豫度函数,进而定义了犹豫模糊元的一致性指数;在此基础上,构建了基于群体一致性指数最大化的权重优化模型,通过求解优化模型可以得到属性的权重向量。然后,运用灰色关联分析法实现对方案的排序和择优。最后,通过实例分析说明了该方法的可行性和有效性。     

Identification of an unknown source depending on both time and space variables by a variational method

The present paper is devoted to solve the problem of identifying an unknown heat source depending simultaneously on both space and time variables. This problem is transformed into an optimization problem and the uniqueness of minimum element is proved rigorously. Then a variational formulation for solving the optimization problem is given. A conjugate gradient method and a finite difference method are used to solve the variational problem. Some numerical examples are also provided to show the efficiency of the proposed method.     

多层次结构优化方法

本文提出了—种包含虚节点和虚单元的力学模型。称为广义结构;导出了分析广义结构的公式;利用Kuhn-Tucker,条件和满应力准则分别建立了虚单元转为实单元的条件;利用这一条件,可以把结构拓扑优化的非线性规划由混合型转化为连续型,使问题的困难度大为降低。这是一种以单一的尺寸变量为变量的,适用于尺寸优化、几何优化和拓扑、布局优化等各个层次结构优化问题的方法,文内还讨论了用本方法得到的解与总极值的关系,并有几个算例说明方法的有效性。     

Optimization Design of Holding Poles Based on the Response Surface Methodology and the Improved Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm北大核心CSCD

抱杆优化设计需要耗费大量有限元分析计算时间,难以确定可行域.该文采用响应面法(response surface method,RSM)来模拟抱杆结构的真实响应,提出了改进的算术优化算法(improved arithmetic optimization algorithm,IAOA)对抱杆结构进行优化设计.将分数阶积分引入算术优化算法(arithmetic optimization algorithm,AOA),改善了算法的开发能力.采用拉丁超立方抽样,选取抱杆结构杆件截面试验样本,利用最小二乘法对样本点进行分析,构建了抱杆结构应力和位移关于杆件截面尺寸的二阶响应面代理模型.建立以抱杆质量最小化为优化目标,许用应力和位移为约束条件的优化模型,采用IAOA对其进行求解.结果表明:二阶响应面模型能够准确预测抱杆结构的响应值,IAOA的求解精度得到显著提升,代理模型可大幅降低有限元分析所需的计算代价,优化后抱杆结构质量减轻了8.2%.联合使用RSM和IAOA可有效求解大型空间杆系结构的优化设计问题.     

A constrained optimization approach to finite element mesh smoothing

The quality of a finite element solution has been shown to be affected by the quality of the underlying mesh. A poor mesh may lead to unstable and/or inaccurate finite element approximations. Mesh quality is often characterized by the “smoothness” or “shape” of the elements (triangles in 2-D or tetrahedra in 3-D). Most automatic mesh generators produce an initial mesh where the aspect ratio of the elements are unacceptably high. In this paper, a new approach to produce acceptable quality meshes from a topologically valid initial mesh is presented. Given an initial mesh (nodal coordinates and element connectivity), a “smooth” final mesh is obtained by solving a constrained optimization problem. The variables for the iterative optimization procedure are the nodal coordinates (excluding, the boundary nodes) of the finite element mesh, and appropriate bounds are imposed on these to prevent an unacceptable finite element mesh. Examples are given of the application of the above method for 2- and 3-D meshes generated using automatic mesh generators. Results indicate that the new method not only yields better quality elements when compared with the traditional Laplacian smoothing, but also guarantees a valid mesh unlike the Laplacian method.     

CALCULATING AN ELEMENT OF B-DIFFERENTIAL FOR A VECTOR-VALUED MAXIMUM FUNCTION*

In this paper, we propose a method of calculating an element of B-differential, also an element of Clarke generalized Jacobian, for a vector-valued maximum function. This calculation is required in many existing numerical methods for the solution of nonsmooth equations and for the nonsmooth optimization. The generalization of our method to a vector-valued smooth composition of maximum functions is also discussed. Particularly, we propose a method of obtaining the set of B-differential for a vector-valued maximum of affine functions.

     

A constrained optimization based method for acoustic finite element model updating of cavities using pressure response

A method based on constrained optimization for updating of an acoustic finite element model using pressure response is proposed in this paper. The constrained optimization problem is solved using sequential quadratic programming algorithm. Updating parameters related to the properties of the sound absorbers and the measurement errors are considered. Effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by numerical studies on a 2D rectangular cavity and a car cavity. It is shown that the constrained formulation, that includes lower and upper bounds on the updating parameters in the form of inequality constraints, is important for obtaining a correct updated model. It is seen that the proposed updating method is not only able to effectively update the model to obtain a close match between the finite element model pressure response and the reference pressure response, but is also able to identify the correction factors to the parameters in error with reasonable accuracy.     

Application of Nelder-Mead simplex method for unconfined seepage problems

In unconfined seepage problems, the phreatic line resulted from mesh deforming methods is rarely a smooth and continuous curve. The main problem is at the meeting point of the phreatic line with the down stream face of the dam where the phreatic line must be tangent to the seepage face according to the fluid continuity principle. In this paper a mesh deforming finite element method based on Nelder-Mead simplex optimization is presented to solve this problem. The phreatic line is approximated by a 4th degree polynomial and Nelder-Mead simplex method is used to calculate the polynomial’s coefficients minimizing an error function which is introduced based on the conditions on the phreatic line. Tangentiality of the phreatic line to the seepage face is introduced in the solution by a constraint in optimization procedure. The results of the presented method are verified by the results of the nonlinear finite element and other mesh deforming methods.     

Seleção de topologias ótimas de estruturas elásticas 2D com restrição de tensão – via Smooth Evolutionary Structural Optimization

This paper approaches the topology optimization problems in plane linear elasticity considering the minimization of the volume with restriction of the stress employing an index of performance for monitoring the meeting of the optimum region. It is used for this purpose the classical evolutionary structural optimization, or ESO ‐ evolutionary structural optimization. This procedure is based on systematic and gradual removal of the elements with lower stress compared with the maximum stress of the structure. This procedure also known as a process “hard‐kill”. It is proposed a variant of the ESO method, called SESO ‐ Smoothing ESO, which is based on the philosophy that if an element is not really necessary for the structure, its contribution to the structural stiffness will gradually diminish until it has no longer influence in the structure, so its removal is performed smoothly. That is, their removal is done smoothly, reducing the values of the constitutive matrix of the element as if it were in the process of damage. A new performance index for the monitoring of this evolutionary process smoothed is proposed herein. The applications of ESO and SESO are made with the finite element method, but considering a high order triangular element based on the free formulation. Finally, it is implemented a spatial filter in terms of stress control, which was associated with SESO technique proved to be very stable and efficient in eliminating the formation of the checkerboard.     

有限元方法在一维和二维抛物方程参数辨识中的应用

§1.引言 本文考虑分布参数系统 ? 在Ω×[0,T]中的参数辨识问题,即通过u的某种观测确定参数a,f及u_0.但一般预先知道u_0和f,因而本文仅考虑参数a的辨识问题.(1)中的Ω是R~n中的有界区域,?Ω为其边界.     

A primal-dual interior point method for optimal zero-forcing beamformer design under per-antenna power constraints

In this paper, we consider an optimal zero-forcing beamformer design problem in multi-user multiple-input multiple-output broadcast channel. The minimum user rate is maximized subject to zero-forcing constraints and power constraint on each base station antenna array element. The natural formulation leads to a nonconvex optimization problem. This problem is shown to be equivalent to a convex optimization problem with linear objective function, linear equality and inequality constraints and quadratic inequality constraints. Here, the indirect elimination method is applied to reduce the convex optimization problem into an equivalent convex optimization problem of lower dimension with only inequality constraints. The primal-dual interior point method is utilized to develop an effective algorithm (in terms of computational efficiency) via solving the modified KKT equations with Newton method. Numerical simulations are carried out. Compared to algorithms based on a trust region interior point method and sequential quadratic programming method, it is observed that the method proposed is much superior in terms of computational efficiency.     

On the multi-component layout design with inertial force

The purpose of this paper is to introduce inertial forces into the proposed integrated layout optimization method designing the multi-component systems. Considering a complex packing system for which several components will be placed in a container of specific shape, the aim of the design procedure is to find the optimal location and orientation of each component, as well as the configuration of the structure that supports and interconnects the components. On the one hand, the Finite-circle Method (FCM) is used to avoid the components overlaps, and also overlaps between components and the design domain boundaries. One the other hand, the optimal material layout of the supporting structure in the design domain is designed by topology optimization. A consistent material interpolation scheme between element stiffness and inertial load is presented to avoid the singularity of localized deformation due to the presence of design dependent inertial loading when the element stiffness and the involved inertial load are weakened with the element material removal. The tested numerical example shows the proposed methods extend the actual concept of topology optimization and are efficient to generate reasonable design patterns.