• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.91-107
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• 2015

Ship hull optimization is categorized as a bound, multi variable, multi objective problem with nonlinear constraints. In such analysis, where the objective function representing the performance of the ship generally requires computationally involved hydrodynamic interaction evaluation methods, the objective functions are not smooth. Hence, the evolutionary techniques to attain the optimum hull forms is considered as the most practical strategy. In this study, a parametric ship hull form represented by B-Spline curves is optimized for multiple performance criteria using Genetic Algorithm. The methodology applied to automate the hull form generation, selection of optimization solvers and hydrodynamic parameter calculation for objective function and constraint definition are discussed here.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.417-439
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• 2021

The geometric nonlinearity has been successfully integrated with the design of steel structural system. Thus, the tubular lattice girder, one application of steel structural systems have already been optimized to obtain an economic design following the completion of computationally expensive design procedure. In order to decrease its computing cost, this study proposes to employ five multi-objective metaheuristics for the design optimization of geometrically nonlinear tubular lattice girder. Then, the employed multi-objective optimization algorithms (MOAs), NSGAII, PESAII, SPEAII, AbYSS and MoCell are evaluated considering their computing performances. For an unbiased evaluation of their computing performance, a tubular lattice girder with varying size-shape-topology and a benchmark truss design with 17 members are not only optimized considering the geometrically nonlinear behavior, but three benchmark mathematical functions along with the four benchmark linear design problems are also included for the comparison purpose. The proposed experimental study is carried out by use of an intelligent optimization tool named JMetal v5.10. According to the quantitative results of employed quality indicators with respect to a statistical analysis test, MoCell is resulted with an achievement of showing better computing performance compared to other four MOAs. Consequently, MoCell is suggested as an optimization tool for the design of geometrically nonlinear tubular lattice girder than the other employed MOAs.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2010

This paper proposes an optimal design method for the nonlinear seismic isolated bridge. The probabilities of failure at the pier and the seismic isolator are considered as objective functions for optimal design, and a multi-objective optimization technique is employed to efficiently explore a set of multiple solutions optimizing mutually-conflicting objective functions at the same time. In addition, a stochastic linearization method is incorporated into the multi-objective optimization framework in order to effectively estimate the stochastic responses of the bridge without performing numerous nonlinear time history analyses during the optimization process. As a numerical example to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method, the Nam-Han river bridge is taken into account, and the proposed method and the existing life-cycle-cost based design method are both applied for the purpose of comparing their seismic performances. The comparative results demonstrate that the proposed method not only shows better seismic performance but also is more economical than the existing cost-based design method. The proposed method is also proven to guarantee improved performance under variations in seismic intensity, in bandwidth and in the predominant frequency of the seismic event.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.35-57
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• 2022

This article presents a computationally efficient framework for multi-objective seismic design optimization of steel moment-resisting frame (MRF) structures based on the nonlinear dynamic analysis procedure. This framework employs the uniform damage distribution philosophy to minimize the weight (initial cost) of the structure at different levels of damage. The preliminary framework was recently proposed by the authors based on the single excitation and the nonlinear static (pushover) analysis procedure, in which the effects of record-to-record variability as well as higher-order vibration modes were neglected. The present study investigates the reliability of the previous framework by extending the proposed algorithm using the nonlinear dynamic design procedure (optimization under multiple ground motions). Three benchmark structures, including 4-, 8-, and 12-story steel MRFs, representing the behavior of low-, mid-, and high-rise buildings, are utilized to evaluate the proposed framework. The total weight of the structure and the maximum inter-story drift ratio (IDRmax) resulting from the average response of the structure to a set of seven ground motion records are considered as two conflicting objectives for the optimization problem and are simultaneously minimized. The results of this study indicate that the optimization under several ground motions leads to almost similar outcomes in terms of optimization objectives to those are obtained from optimization under pushover analysis. However, investigation of optimal designs under a suite of 22 earthquake records reveals that the damage distribution in buildings designed by the nonlinear dynamic-based procedure is closer to the uniform distribution (desired target during the optimization process) compared to those designed according to the pushover procedure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.677-689
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• 2022

Generally, the goal of seismic retrofit design of an existing structure using energy dissipation devices is to determine the optimum design parameters of a retrofit device to satisfy a specified limit state with minimum cost. However, the presence of multiple parameters to be optimized and the computational complexity of performing non-linear analysis make it difficult to find the optimal design parameters in the realistic 3D structure. In this study, genetic algorithm-based optimal seismic retrofit methods for determining the required number, yield strength, and location of steel slit dampers are proposed to retrofit an asymmetric soft first-story structure. These methods use a multi-objective and single-objective evolutionary algorithms, each of which varies in computational complexity and incorporates nonlinear time-history analysis to determine seismic performance. Pareto-optimal solutions of the multi-objective optimization are found using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). It is demonstrated that the developed multi-objective optimization methods can determine the optimum number, yield strength, and location of dampers that satisfy the given limit state of a three-dimensional asymmetric soft first-story structure. It is also shown that the single-objective distribution method based on minimizing plan-wise stiffness eccentricity turns out to produce similar number of dampers in optimum locations without time consuming nonlinear dynamic analysis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1898-1909
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• 1993

In this paper, a convenient scheme for solving multi-objective optimization problems including fuzzy information in both objective functions and constraints is presented. At first, a multi-objective problem is converted into single objective problem based on the norm method, and a merbership function is constructed by selecting its type and providing the parameters defined by the norm method. Finally, this fuzzy programming problem is converted into an ordinary optimization problem which can be solved by usual nonlinear programming techniques. With this scheme, a designer can conveniently obtain pareto optimal solutions of a fuzzy system only by providing some parameters corresponding to the importance of the objectiv functions. Proposed scheme is simple and efficient in treating multi-objective fuzzy systems compared with and method by with membership function value is provided interactively. To show the validity of the scheme, a simple 3-bar truss example and optimal cutting problem are solved, and the results show that the scheme is very useful and easy to treat multi-objective fuzzy systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.795-821
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• 2012

The size and topology of geometrically nonlinear dome structures are optimized thereby minimizing both its entire weight & joint (node) displacements and maximizing load-carrying capacity. Design constraints are implemented from provisions of American Petroleum Institute specification (API RP2A-LRFD). In accordance with the proposed design constraints, the member responses computed by use of arc-length technique as a nonlinear structural analysis method are checked at each load increment. Thus, a penalization process utilized for inclusion of unfeasible designations to genetic search is correspondingly neglected. In order to solve this complex design optimization problem with multiple objective functions, Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA II) approach is employed as a multi-objective optimization tool. Furthermore, the flexibility of proposed optimization is enhanced thereby integrating an automatic dome generating tool. Thus, it is possible to generate three distinct sphere-shaped dome configurations with varying topologies. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of brace (diagonal) members into the geometrical configuration of dome structure provides a weight-saving dome designation with higher load-carrying capacity. The proposed optimization approach is recommended for the design optimization of geometrically nonlinear dome structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-294
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• 2014

In recent years, along with the advances made in performance-based design optimization, the need for fast calculation of response parameters in dynamic analysis procedures has become an important issue. The main problem in this field is the extremely high computational demand of time-history analyses which may convert the solution algorithm to illogical ones. Two simplifying strategies have shown to be very effective in tackling this problem; first, simplified nonlinear modeling investigating minimum level of structural modeling sophistication, second, wavelet analysis of earthquake records decreasing the number of acceleration points involved in time-history loading. In this paper, we try to develop an efficient framework, using both strategies, to solve the performance-based multi-objective optimal design problem considering the initial cost and the seismic damage cost of steel moment-frame structures. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is employed as the optimization algorithm to search the Pareto optimal solutions. The constraints of the optimization problem are considered in accordance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommended design specifications. The results from numerical application of the proposed framework demonstrate the capabilities of the framework in solving the present multi-objective optimization problem.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.255-274
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• 2016

This paper presents a novel symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm to optimize both real power loss (RPL) and voltage stability limit (VSL) of a transmission network by controlling the variables such as unified power flow controller (UPFC) location, UPFC series injected voltage magnitude and phase angle and transformer taps simultaneously. Mathematically, this issue can be formulated as nonlinear equality and inequality constrained multi objective, multi variable optimization problem with a fitness function integrating both RPL and VSL. The symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm is a nature inspired optimization method based on the biological interactions between the organisms in ecosystem. The advantage of SOS algorithm is that it requires a few control parameters compared to other meta-heuristic algorithms. The proposed SOS algorithm is applied for solving optimum control variables for both single objective and multi-objective optimization problems and tested on New England 39 bus test system. In the single objective optimization problem only RPL minimization is considered. The simulation results of the proposed algorithm have been compared with the results of the algorithms like interior point successive linear programming (IPSLP) and bacteria foraging algorithm (BFA) reported in the literature. The comparison results confirm the efficacy and superiority of the proposed method in optimizing both single and multi objective problems.

• Clean Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2001

Optimization methodologies have been proposed of find the best environment-friendly recycling pathways of plastic materials based on life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The main difficulty in conducting this optimization study is that multiple environmental burdens have to be considered simultaneously as the cost functions. Instead of generating conservative Pareto or noninferior solutions following multi-objective optimization approaches, we have proposed some practical criteria on how to combine the different environmental burdens into a single measure. The obtained single objective optimization problem can then be solved by conventional nonlinear programming techniques or, more effectively, by a tree search method based on decision flows. The latter method reduces multi-dimensional optimization problems to a set of one-dimensional problems in series. It is expected the suggested tree search approach can be applied to many LCA studies as a new promising optimization tool.