An Efficient Reliability-Based Optimization Method Utilizing High-Dimensional Model Representation and Weight-Point Estimation Method

The objective of reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)is to minimize the optimization objective while satisfying the corresponding reliability requirements.However,the nested loop characteristic reduces the efficiency of RBDO algorithm,which hinders their application to high-dimensional engineering problems.To address these issues,this paper proposes an efficient decoupled RBDO method combining high dimensional model representation(HDMR)and the weight-point estimation method(WPEM).First,we decouple the RBDO model using HDMR and WPEM.Second,Lagrange interpolation is used to approximate a univariate function.Finally,based on the results of the first two steps,the original nested loop reliability optimization model is completely transformed into a deterministic design optimization model that can be solved by a series of mature constrained optimization methods without any additional calculations.Two numerical examples of a planar 10-bar structure and an aviation hydraulic piping system with 28 design variables are analyzed to illustrate the performance and practicability of the proposed method.

Efficient Reliability-Based Optimization Scheme for Piezoelectric Composite Beams with Delamination under Axial Compression

An efficient computational framework for reliability analysis and reliability-based design optimization of piezoelectric composite beam with delamination is presented.In the proposed approach,the transverse shear deformation,delamination and piezoelectricity of the beam are taken into account.By introducing the Heaviside step function into the displacement components and using the Rayleigh-Ritz method,and the buckling governing equations for the piezoelectric composite beams is obtained.The reliability of the beams is obtained by integrating the support vector machine method and first order reliability method,further the reliability-based optimization is executed through employing genetic algorithm.The effects of ply style,delamination length and voltage are discussed in details.Numerical results indicate that the comprehensive computational scheme provides a unified numerical framework to analysis the nondeterministic buckling and reliability efficiently.

Reliability-Based Optimization:Small Sample Optimization Strategy

The aim of the paper is to present a newly developed approach for reliability-based design optimization. It is based on double loop framework where the outer loop of algorithm covers the optimization part of process of reliability-based optimization and reliability constrains are calculated in inner loop. Innovation of suggested approach is in application of newly developed optimization strategy based on multilevel simulation using an advanced Latin Hypercube Sampling technique. This method is called Aimed multilevel sampling and it is designated for optimization of problems where only limited number of simulations is possible to perform due to enormous com- putational demands.

Reliability-based life-cycle cost seismic design optimization of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials

Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.

Random Forest-Based Fatigue Reliability-Based Design Optimization for Aeroengine Structures

Fatigue reliability-based design optimization of aeroengine structures involves multiple repeated calculations of reliability degree and large-scale calls of implicit high-nonlinearity limit state function,leading to the traditional direct Monte Claro and surrogate methods prone to unacceptable computing efficiency and accuracy.In this case,by fusing the random subspace strategy and weight allocation technology into bagging ensemble theory,a random forest(RF)model is presented to enhance the computing efficiency of reliability degree;moreover,by embedding the RF model into multilevel optimization model,an efficient RF-assisted fatigue reliability-based design optimization framework is developed.Regarding the low-cycle fatigue reliability-based design optimization of aeroengine turbine disc as a case,the effectiveness of the presented framework is validated.The reliabilitybased design optimization results exhibit that the proposed framework holds high computing accuracy and computing efficiency.The current efforts shed a light on the theory/method development of reliability-based design optimization of complex engineering structures.

A Multiscale Reliability-Based Design Optimization Method for Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Drive Shafts

Carbon fiber composites,characterized by their high specific strength and low weight,are becoming increasingly crucial in automotive lightweighting.However,current research primarily emphasizes layer count and orientation,often neglecting the potential of microstructural design,constraints in the layup process,and performance reliability.This study,therefore,introduces a multiscale reliability-based design optimization method for carbon fiber-reinforced plastic(CFRP)drive shafts.Initially,parametric modeling of the microscale cell was performed,and its elastic performance parameters were predicted using two homogenization methods,examining the impact of fluctuations in microscale cell parameters on composite material performance.A finite element model of the CFRP drive shaft was then constructed,achieving parameter transfer between microscale and macroscale through Python programming.This enabled an investigation into the influence of both micro and macro design parameters on the CFRP drive shaft’s performance.The Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization(MOPSO)algorithm was enhanced for particle generation and updating strategies,facilitating the resolution of multi-objective reliability optimization problems,including composite material layup process constraints.Case studies demonstrated that this approach leads to over 30%weight reduction in CFRP drive shafts compared to metallic counterparts while satisfying reliability requirements and offering insights for the lightweight design of other vehicle components.

An Efficient Method for Reliability-based Multidisciplinary Design Optimization

Design for modem engineering system is becoming multidisciplinary and incorporates practical uncertainties; therefore, it is necessary to synthesize reliability analysis and the multidisciplinary design optimization （MDO） techniques for the design of complex engineering system. An advanced first order second moment method-based concurrent subspace optimization approach is proposed based on the comparison and analysis of the existing multidisciplinary optimization techniques and the reliability analysis methods. It is seen through a canard configuration optimization for a three-surface transport that the proposed method is computationally efficient and practical with the least modification to the current deterministic optimization process.

Reliability-based multidisciplinary design optimization using incremental shifting vector strategy and its application in electronic product design

Use of multidisciplinary analysis in reliabilitybased design optimization(RBDO) results in the emergence of the important method of reliability-based multidisciplinary design optimization(RBMDO). To enhance the efficiency and convergence of the overall solution process,a decoupling algorithm for RBMDO is proposed herein.Firstly, to decouple the multidisciplinary analysis using the individual disciplinary feasible(IDF) approach, the RBMDO is converted into a conventional form of RBDO. Secondly,the incremental shifting vector(ISV) strategy is adopted to decouple the nested optimization of RBDO into a sequential iteration process composed of design optimization and reliability analysis, thereby improving the efficiency significantly. Finally, the proposed RBMDO method is applied to the design of two actual electronic products: an aerial camera and a car pad. For these two applications, two RBMDO models are created, each containing several finite element models(FEMs) and relatively strong coupling between the involved disciplines. The computational results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Reliability-Based Shape Optimization of Tenon/Mortise in Aero-engines with Contact

Based on the theory of reliability-based structural shape optimization, exact expressions of the sensibility using the stochastic finite element method for contact problems were derived in detail, and the basic steps of structural optimization were given. A coattail-type tenon/mortise of an aero-engine was optimized. In this model, the maximum equivalent stress of the nodes on the boundary of the tenon was the objective function; the width of tooth’s neck and the side surface’s slope angle of a tenon were design variables, with constraints of tension stress, extrusion stress and reliability index. The result showed that the distributions of the contact pressure between tenon and mortise, the equivalence stress and reliability index were more reasonable. It validates the correctness of the optimization model and the reliability-based structural shape optimization, and provides valuable references for structural design of the tenon/mortise.

RELIABILITY-BASED DESIGN OF COMPOSITES UNDER THE MIXED UNCERTAINTIES AND THE OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM

This paper proposed a reliability design model for composite materials under the mixture of random and interval variables. Together with the inverse reliability analysis technique, the sequential single-loop optimization method is applied to the reliability-based design of composites. In the sequential single-loop optimization, the optimization and the reliability analysis are decoupled to improve the computational efficiency. As shown in examples, the minimum weight problems under the constraint of structural reliability are solved for laminated composites. The Particle Swarm Optimization （PSO） algorithm is utilized to search for the optimal solutions. The design results indicate that, under the mixture of random and interval variables, the method that combines the sequential single-loop optimization and the PSO algorithm can deal effectively with the reliability-based design of composites.

NEW APPROACH FOR RELIABILITY-BASED DESIGN OPTIMIZATION:MINIMUM ERROR POINT

Conventional reliability-based design optimization （RBDO） requires to use the most probable point （MPP） method for a probabilistic analysis of the reliability constraints. A new approach is presented, called as the minimum error point （MEP） method or the MEP based method, for reliability-based design optimization, whose idea is to minimize the error produced by approximating performance functions. The MEP based method uses the first order Taylor＇s expansion at MEP instead of MPP. Examples demonstrate that the MEP based design optimization can ensure product reliability at the required level, which is very imperative for many important engineering systems. The MEP based reliability design optimization method is feasible and is considered as an alternative for solving reliability design optimization problems. The MEP based method is more robust than the commonly used MPP based method for some irregular performance functions.

Reliability-based design optimization for flexible mechanism with particle swarm optimization and advanced extremum response surface method

To improve the computational efficiency of the reliability-based design optimization(RBDO) of flexible mechanism, particle swarm optimization-advanced extremum response surface method(PSO-AERSM) was proposed by integrating particle swarm optimization(PSO) algorithm and advanced extremum response surface method(AERSM). Firstly, the AERSM was developed and its mathematical model was established based on artificial neural network, and the PSO algorithm was investigated. And then the RBDO model of flexible mechanism was presented based on AERSM and PSO. Finally, regarding cross-sectional area as design variable, the reliability optimization of flexible mechanism was implemented subject to reliability degree and uncertainties based on the proposed approach. The optimization results show that the cross-section sizes obviously reduce by 22.96 mm^2 while keeping reliability degree. Through the comparison of methods, it is demonstrated that the AERSM holds high computational efficiency while keeping computational precision for the RBDO of flexible mechanism, and PSO algorithm minimizes the response of the objective function. The efforts of this work provide a useful sight for the reliability optimization of flexible mechanism, and enrich and develop the reliability theory as well.

Reliability-Based Topology Optimization of Fail-Safe Structures Using Moving Morphable Bars

This paper proposes an effective reliability design optimizationmethod for fail-safe topology optimization(FSTO)considering uncertainty based on the moving morphable bars method to establish the ideal balance between cost and robustness,reliability and structural safety.To this end,a performancemeasure approach(PMA)-based doubleloop optimization algorithmis developed tominimize the relative volume percentage while achieving the reliability criterion.To ensure the compliance value of the worst failure case can better approximate the quantified design requirement,a p-norm constraint approach with correction parameter is introduced.Finally,the significance of accounting for uncertainty in the fail-safe design is illustrated by contrasting the findings of the proposed reliabilitybased topology optimization(RBTO)method with those of the deterministic design method in three typical examples.Monte Carlo simulation shows that the relative error of the reliability index of the optimized structure does not exceed 3%.

Reliability-based Robust Optimization Design of Automobile Components with Non-normal Distribution Parameters

In the reliability designing procedure of the vehicle components, when the distribution styles of the random variables are unknown or non-normal distribution, the result evaluated contains great error or even is wrong if the reliability value R is larger than 1 by using the existent method, in which case the formula is necessary to be revised. This is obviously inconvenient for programming. Combining reliability-based optimization theory, robust designing method and reliability based sensitivity analysis, a new method for reliability robust designing is proposed. Therefore the influence level of the designing parameters’ changing to the reliability of vehicle components can be obtained. The reliability sensitivity with respect to design parameters is viewed as a sub-objective function in the multi-objective optimization problem satisfying reliability constraints. Given the first four moments of basic random variables, a fourth-moment technique and the proposed optimization procedure can obtain reliability-based robust design of automobile components with non-normal distribution parameters accurately and quickly. By using the proposed method, the distribution style of the random parameters is relaxed. Therefore it is much closer to the actual reliability problems. The numerical examples indicate the following: (1) The reliability value obtained by the robust method proposed increases (】0.04%) comparing to the value obtained by the ordinary optimization algorithm; (2) The absolute value of reliability-based sensitivity decreases (】0.01%), and the robustness of the products’ quality is improved accordingly. Utilizing the reliability-based optimization and robust design method in the reliability designing procedure reduces the manufacture cost and provides the theoretical basis for the reliability and robust design of the vehicle components.

Reliability-based Maintenance Optimization under Imperfect Predictive Maintenance

The reliability-based maintenance optimization model has been focused by the engineers and scholars but it has never been solved effectively to formulate the effect of a maintenance action on the optimization model. In existing works, the system reliability was assumed to be increased to 1 after a predictive maintenance. However, it is very difficult in the most practical systems. Therefore, a new reliability-based maintenance optimization model under imperfect predictive maintenance (PM) is proposed in this paper. In the model, the system reliability is only restored to R i (0<R i <1, i∈N, N is natural number set) after the ith PM. The system uptimes and the corresponding probability in two cases whether there is an unexpected fault in one cycle are derived respectively and the system expected uptime model is given. To formulate the system expected downtime, the probability of each imperfect PM number in one cycle is calculated. Then, the system expected total time model is obtained. The total expected long-term operation cost is composed of the expected maintenance cost, the expected loss due to the downtime and the expected additional cost due to the occurrence of an unexpected failure. They are modeled respectively in this work. Jointing the system expected total time and long-term operation cost in one cycle, the expected long-term operation cost per time could be computed. Then, the proposed maintenance optimization model is formulated where the objective function is to minimize the expected long-term operation cost per time. The results of numerical example show that the proposed model could scheme the optimal maintenance actions for the considered system when the required parameters are given and the optimal solution of the proposed model is sensitive to the parameters of effective age model and insensitive to other parameters. The proposed model effectively solves the problem of evaluating the effect of an imperfect PM on the system reliability and presents a more practical optimization method for the reliability-based maintenance strategy than the existing works.

Reliability-based robust multi-obj ective optimization of a 5-DOF vehicle vibration model subjected to random road profiles

Ride and handling are two paramount factors in design and development of vehicle suspension systems. Conflicting trends in ride and handling characteristics propel engineers toward employing multi-objective optimization methods capable of providing the best trade-off designs compromising both criteria simultaneously. Although many studies have been performed on multi-objective optimization of vehicle suspension system, only a few of them have used probabilistic approaches considering effects of uncertainties in the design. However, it has been proved that optimum point obtained from deterministic optimization without taking into account the effects of uncertainties may lead to high-risk points instead of optimum ones. In this work, reliability-based robust multi-objective optimization of a 5 degree of freedom （5-DOF） vehicle suspension system is performed using method of non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II （NSGA-II） in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulation （MCS） to obtain best designs considering both comfort and handling. Road profile is modeled as a random function using power spectral density （PSD） which is in better accordance with reality. To accommodate the robust approach, the variance of all objective functions is also considered to be minimized. Also, to take into account the reliability criterion, a reliability-based constraint is considered in the optimization. A deterministic optimization has also been performed to compare the results with probabilistic study and some other deterministic studies in the literature. In addition, sensitivity analysis has been performed to reveal the effects of different design variables on objective functions. To introduce the best trade-off points from the obtained Pareto fronts, TOPSIS method has been employed. Results show that optimum design point obtained from probabilistic optimization in this work provides better performance while demonstrating very good reliability and robustness. However, other optimum points from deterministic optimizations violate the regarded constraints in the presence of uncertainties.

Reliable Space Pursuing for Reliability-based Design Optimization with Black-box Performance Functions

Reliability-based design optimization （RBDO） is intrinsically a double-loop procedure since it involves an overall optimization and an iterative reliability assessment at each search point. Due to the double-loop procedure, the computational expense of RBDO is normally very high. Current RBDO research focuses on problems with explicitly expressed performance functions and readily available gradients. This paper addresses a more challenging type of RBDO problem in which the performance functions are computation intensive. These computation intensive functions are often considered as a ＂black-box＂ and their gradients are not available or not reliable. On the basis of the reliable design space （RDS） concept proposed earlier by the authors, this paper proposes a Reliable Space Pursuing （RSP） approach, in which RDS is first identified and then gradually refined while optimization is performed. It fundamentally avoids the nested optimization and probabilistic assessment loop. Three well known RBDO problems from the literature are used for testing and demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed RSP method.

Time-Variant Reliability-Based Multi-Objective Fuzzy Design Optimization for Anti-Roll Torsion Bar of EMU

Although various types of anti-roll torsion bars have been developed to inhibit excessive roll angle of the electric multiple unit(EMU)car body,it is critical to ensure the reliability of structural design due to the complexity of the problems involving time and uncertainties.To address this issue,amulti-objective fuzzy design optimization model is constructed considering time-variant stiffness and strength reliability constraints for the anti-roll torsion bar.A hybrid optimization strategy combining the design of experiment(DoE)sampling and non-linear programming by quadratic lagrangian(NLPQL)is presented to deal with the design optimization model.To characterize the effect of time on the structural performance of the torsion bar,the continuous-time model combined with Ito lemma is proposed to establish the time-variant stiffness and strength reliability constraints.Fuzzy mathematics is employed to conduct uncertainty quantification for the design parameters of the torsion bar.A physical programming approach is used to improve the designer’s preference and to make the optimization results more consistent with engineering practices.Moreover,the effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated by comparing with current methods in a practical engineering case.

An Uncertainty Analysis and Reliability-Based Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Method Using Fourth-Moment Saddlepoint Approximation

In uncertainty analysis and reliability-based multidisciplinary design and optimization(RBMDO)of engineering structures,the saddlepoint approximation(SA)method can be utilized to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of reliability evaluation.However,the random variables involved in SA should be easy to handle.Additionally,the corresponding saddlepoint equation should not be complicated.Both of them limit the application of SA for engineering problems.The moment method can construct an approximate cumulative distribution function of the performance function based on the first few statistical moments.However,the traditional moment matching method is not very accurate generally.In order to take advantage of the SA method and the moment matching method to enhance the efficiency of design and optimization,a fourth-moment saddlepoint approximation(FMSA)method is introduced into RBMDO.In FMSA,the approximate cumulative generating functions are constructed based on the first four moments of the limit state function.The probability density function and cumulative distribution function are estimated based on this approximate cumulative generating function.Furthermore,the FMSA method is introduced and combined into RBMDO within the framework of sequence optimization and reliability assessment,which is based on the performance measure approach strategy.Two engineering examples are introduced to verify the effectiveness of proposed method.

Reliability-based concurrent subspace optimization method

To avoid the high computational cost and much modification in the process of applying traditional reliability-based design optimization method, a new reliability-based concurrent subspace optimization approach is proposed based on the comparison and analysis of the existing multidisciplinary optimization techniques and reliability assessment methods. It is shown through a canard configuration optimization for a three-surface transport that the proposed method is computationally efficient and practical with the least modification to the current deterministic optimization process.