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.

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.

DYNAMIC RESPONSE OPTIMIZATION DESIGN FOR ENGINEERING STRUCTURES BASED ON RELIABILITY

In many practical structures, physical parameters of material and applied loads have random property.To optimize this kind of structures,an optimum mathematical model was built.This model has reliability constraints on dynamic stress and displacement and upper & lower limits of the design variables. The numerical characteristic of dynamic response and sensitivity of dynamic response based on probability of structure were deduced respectively. By equivalent disposing, the reliability constraints were changed into conventional forms. The SUMT method was used in the optimization process.Two examples illustrate the correctness and practicability of the optimum model and solving approach.

Probabilistic-Ellipsoid Hybrid Reliability Multi-Material Topology Optimization Method Based on Stress Constraint

This paper proposes a multi-material topology optimization method based on the hybrid reliability of the probability-ellipsoid model with stress constraint for the stochastic uncertainty and epistemic uncertainty of mechanical loads in optimization design.The probabilistic model is combined with the ellipsoidal model to describe the uncertainty of mechanical loads.The topology optimization formula is combined with the ordered solid isotropic material with penalization(ordered-SIMP)multi-material interpolation model.The stresses of all elements are integrated into a global stress measurement that approximates the maximum stress using the normalized p-norm function.Furthermore,the sequential optimization and reliability assessment(SORA)is applied to transform the original uncertainty optimization problem into an equivalent deterministic topology optimization(DTO)problem.Stochastic response surface and sparse grid technique are combined with SORA to get accurate information on the most probable failure point(MPP).In each cycle,the equivalent topology optimization formula is updated according to the MPP information obtained in the previous cycle.The adjoint variable method is used for deriving the sensitivity of the stress constraint and the moving asymptote method(MMA)is used to update design variables.Finally,the validity and feasibility of the method are verified by the numerical example of L-shape beam design,T-shape structure design,steering knuckle,and 3D T-shaped beam.

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 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.

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.

Reliability Based Design Optimization of Aero-Engine Spindle Ball Bearings

Aero-engine spindle ball bearings work in harsh conditions which are affected by relatively complex stresses. One of the key factors which affects bearing performance is its structure. In this paper,we used reliability based design optimization method to solve the structure design problem of aero-engine spindle ball bearings.Compared with the optimization design method, the value of equivalent dynamic load using reliability optimization design method was the least by MATLAB simulation. Also the design solutions show that the optimized structure possesses higher reliability than the original solution.

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 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.

Research on Low Cycle Fatigue Reliability-based Robust Design Optimization of Turbine Blade

针对涡轮叶片低周疲劳可靠性稳健设计优化问题，对叶片材料进行了高温疲劳试验，采用定量方程随机化方法处理试验数据，获得叶片材料的概率-应变-寿命曲线。采用贝塞尔曲线描述叶片型线方程，建立了涡轮叶片结构及流场的参数化模型，采用热-流-固耦合有限元法对涡轮流场和叶片进行了数值分析，得到叶片动能效率和应力应变分布特性。建立了叶片疲劳可靠性稳健设计优化模型，并采用响应面法获得叶片结构性能函数和极限状态函数，将叶片低周疲劳可靠性作为基本约束条件，采用序列二次规划优化法得到设计优化结果。研究结果表明，优化后的叶片低周疲劳可靠性以及稳健性显著提高，模型及方法正确可行，可用于涡轮叶片以及其他复杂结构的低周疲劳可靠性稳健设计优化。

Reliability Based Optimization of Composite Laminates for Frequency Constraint

The reliability based optimization （RBO） issue of composite laminates trader fundamental frequency constraint is studied. Considering the tmcertainties of material properties, the frequency constraint reliability of the structure is evaluated by the combination of response surface method （RSM） and finite element method. An optimization algorithm is developed based on the mechanism of laminate frequency characteristics, to optimize the laminate in terms of the ply amount and orientation angles. Numerical examples of composite laminates and cylindrical shell illustrate the advantages of the present optimization algorithm on the efficiency and applicability respects. The optimal solutions of RBO are obviously different from the deterministic optimization results, and the necessity of considering material property uncertainties in the composite structural frequency constraint optimization is revealed.

Optimization design of piles subjected to horizontal loads based on reliability theory

Based on reliability theory,a general method for the optimization design of piles subjected to horizontal loads is presented.This method takes into consideration various uncertainties caused by pile installation,variability of geotechnical materials from one location to another,and so on.It also deals with behavior and side constraints specified by standard specifications for piles.To more accurately solve the optimization design model,the first order reliability method is employed.The results from the numerical example indicate that the target reliability index has significant influence on design parameters.In addition,the optimization weight increases with the target reliability index.Especially when the target reliability index is relatively large,the target reliability index has significant influence on design weight of piles.

An Overview of Recently Developed Coupled Simulation Optimization Approaches for Reliability Based Minimum Cost Design of Water Retaining Structures

This paper reviews several recently-developed techniques for the minimum-cost optimal design of water-retaining structures (WRSs), which integrate the effects of seepage. These include the incorporation of uncertainty in heterogeneous soil parameter estimates and quantification of reliability. This review is limited to methods based on coupled simulation-optimization (S-O) models. In this context, the design of WRSs is mainly affected by hydraulic design variables such as seepage quantities, which are difficult to determine from closed-form solutions or approximation theories. An S-O model is built by integrating numerical seepage modeling responses to an optimization algorithm based on efficient surrogate models. The surrogate models (meta-models) are trained on simulated data obtained from finite element numerical code solutions. The proposed methodology is applied using several machine learning techniques and optimization solvers to optimize the design of WRS by incorporating different design variables and boundary conditions. Additionally, the effects of several scenarios of flow domain hydraulic conductivity are integrated into the S-O model. Also, reliability based optimum design concepts are incorporated in the S-O model to quantify uncertainty in seepage quantities due to uncertainty in hydraulic conductivity estimates. We can conclude that the S-O model can efficiently optimize WRS designs. The ANN, SVM, and GPR machine learning technique-based surrogate models are efficiently and expeditiously incorporated into the S-O models to imitate the numerical responses of simulations of various problems.

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.

Uncertainty-based Multidisciplinary Design Optimization using An Approximated Second-Order Reliability Analysis Strategy

In uncertainty-based multidisciplinary design optimization(UBMDO),all reliability limitation factors are maintained due to minimize the cost target function.There are many reliability evaluation methods for reliability limitation factors.The second-order reliability method(SORM)is a powerful most possible point(MPP)-based method.It can provide an accurate estimation of the failure probability of a highly nonlinear limit state function despite its large curvature.But the Hessian calculation is necessary in SORM,which results in a heavy computational cost.Recently,an efficient approximated second-order reliability method(ASORM)is proposed.The ASORM uses a quasi-Newton method to close to Hessian without the direct calculation of Hessian.To further improve the UBMDO efficiency,we also introduce the performance measure approach(PMA)and the sequential optimization and reliability assessment(SORA)strategy.To solve the optimization design problem of a turbine blade,the formula of MDO with ASORM under the SORA framework(MDO-ASORM-SORA)is proposed.

Multi-objective reliability optimization design of high-speed heavy-duty gears based on APCK-SORA model

For high-speed heavy-duty gears in operation is prone to high tooth surface temperature rise and thus produce tooth surface gluing leading to transmission failure and other adverse effects,but in the gear optimization design and little consideration of thermal transmission errors and thermal resonance and other factors,while the conventional multi-objective optimization design methods are difficult to achieve the optimum of each objective.Based on this,the paper proposes a gear multi-objective reliability optimisation design method based on the APCK-SORA model.The PC-Kriging model and the adaptive k-means clustering method are combined to construct an adaptive reliability analysis method(APCK for short),which is then integrated with the SORA optimisation algorithm.The objective function is the lightweight of gear pair,the maximum overlap degree and the maximum anti-glue strength;the basic parameters of the gear and the sensitivity parameters affecting the thermal deformation and thermal resonance of the gear are used as design variables;the amount of thermal deformation and thermal resonance,as well as the contact strength of the tooth face and the bending strength of the tooth root are used as constraints;the optimisation results show that:the mass of the gear is reduced by 0.13kg,the degree of overlap is increased by 0.016 and the coefficient of safety against galling Compared with other methods,the proposed method is more efficient than the other methods in meeting the multi-objective reliability design requirements of lightweighting,ensuring smoothness and anti-galling capability of high-speed heavy-duty gears.

A Method for Surveying Control Network Optimization Based on Reliability Properties

Surveying control network optimization design is related to standards, such as precision, reliability, sensitivity and the cost, and these standards are related closely to each other. A new method for surveying control network simulation optimization design is proposed. This method is based on the inner reliability index of the observation values.

Metamodel-based Global Optimization Using Fuzzy Clustering for Design Space Reduction

High fidelity analysis are utilized in modern engineering design optimization problems which involve expensive black-box models.For computation-intensive engineering design problems,efficient global optimization methods must be developed to relieve the computational burden.A new metamodel-based global optimization method using fuzzy clustering for design space reduction(MGO-FCR) is presented.The uniformly distributed initial sample points are generated by Latin hypercube design to construct the radial basis function metamodel,whose accuracy is improved with increasing number of sample points gradually.Fuzzy c-mean method and Gath-Geva clustering method are applied to divide the design space into several small interesting cluster spaces for low and high dimensional problems respectively.Modeling efficiency and accuracy are directly related to the design space,so unconcerned spaces are eliminated by the proposed reduction principle and two pseudo reduction algorithms.The reduction principle is developed to determine whether the current design space should be reduced and which space is eliminated.The first pseudo reduction algorithm improves the speed of clustering,while the second pseudo reduction algorithm ensures the design space to be reduced.Through several numerical benchmark functions,comparative studies with adaptive response surface method,approximated unimodal region elimination method and mode-pursuing sampling are carried out.The optimization results reveal that this method captures the real global optimum for all the numerical benchmark functions.And the number of function evaluations show that the efficiency of this method is favorable especially for high dimensional problems.Based on this global design optimization method,a design optimization of a lifting surface in high speed flow is carried out and this method saves about 10 h compared with genetic algorithms.This method possesses favorable performance on efficiency,robustness and capability of global convergence and gives a new optimization strategy for engineering design optimization problems involving expensive black box models.

Finding Symbolic and All Numerical Solutions for Design Optimization Based on Monotonicity Analysis and Solving Polynomial Systems

A method for determining symbolic and all numerical solutions in design optimization based on monotonicity analysis and solving polynomial systems is presented in this paper. Groebner Bases of the algebraic system equivalent to the subproblem of the design optimization is taken as the symbolic (analytical) expression of the optimum solution for the symbolic optimization, i.e. the problem with symbolic coefficients. A method based on substituting and eliminating for determining Groebner Bases is also proposed, and method for finding all numerical optimum solutions is discussed. Finally an example is given, demonstrating the strategy and efficiency of the method.