• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1099-1120
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• 2014

In this paper, reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) of structures is addressed. For this purpose, the global search and optimization capabilities of genetic algorithm (GA) are combined with the efficiency and reasonable accuracy of an advanced moment-based finite element reliability method. For performing RBDO, three variants of GA including a real-coded, a binary-coded and an improved binary-coded GA are developed. In these methods, GA performs (finite element) reliability analyses to evaluate reliability constraints. For truss structures which include finite element modeling, reliability constraints are evaluated using finite element reliability analysis. Response sensitivity required for finite element reliability analysis is obtained by direct differentiation method (DDM) rather than finite difference method (FDM). The proposed methods are examined within four standard test examples and real-world design problems. The results illustrate the superiority and efficiency of the improved binary-coded GA. Results also illustrate that DDM significantly reduces the computational cost and improves the efficiency of the optimization procedure.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2007

The frontal crash optimization of an engine room member using the response surface method was studied. The engine room member is composed of the front side member and the sub-frame. The thicknesses of the panels on the front side member and the sub-frame were selected as the design variables. The purpose of the optimization was to reduce the weight of the structure, under the constraint that the objective quantity of crash energy is absorbed. The response surface method was used to approximate the crash behavior in mathematical form for optimization procedure. To research the effect of the regression method, two different methodologies were used in constructing the response surface model, the least square method and the moving least square method. The optimum with the two methods was verified by the simulation result. The precision of the surrogate model affected the optimal design. The moving least square method showed better approximation than the least square method. In addition to the deterministic optimization, the reliability-based design optimization using the response surface method was executed to examine the effect of uncertainties in design variables. The requirement for reliability made the optimal structure be heavier than the result of the deterministic optimization. Compared with the deterministic optimum, the optimal design using the reliability-based design optimization showed higher crash energy absorption and little probability of failure in achieving the objective.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.177-188
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• 2024

The fatigue-induced sequential failure of a structure having structural redundancy requires system-level analysis to account for stress redistribution. System reliability-based design optimization (SRBDO) for preventing fatigue-initiated structural failure is numerically costly owing to the inclusion of probabilistic constraints. This study incorporates the Branch-and-Bound method employing system reliability Bounds (termed the B³ method), a failure-path structural system reliability analysis approach, with a metaheuristic optimization algorithm, namely grey wolf optimization (GWO), to obtain the optimal design of structures under fatigue-induced system failure. To further improve the efficiency of this new optimization framework, an additional bounding rule is proposed in the context of SRBDO against fatigue using the B³ method. To demonstrate the proposed method, it is applied to complex problems, a multilayer Daniels system and a three-dimensional tripod jacket structure. The system failure probability of the optimal design is confirmed to be below the target threshold and verified using Monte Carlo simulation. At earlier stages of the optimization, a smaller number of limit-state function evaluation is required, which increases the efficiency. In addition, the proposed method can allocate limited materials throughout the structure optimally so that the optimally-designed structure has a relatively large number of failure paths with similar failure probability.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.145-154
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• 1997

The results of optimum design by the deterministic approach adopted in the current design codes depend upon the safety levels of the applied code. But, it is now generally recognized that structural problems are nondeterministic and, consequently, that engineering optimum design must cope with uncertainties. Therefore, it is not an overstatement to affirm that the combination of reliability-based design procedures and optimization techniques is the only means of providing a powerful tool to obtain a practical optimum design solution. In the paper, reliability based optimum design procedure as a rational approach to optimum structural design is presented. The design constraints are formulated based on the ASD, LRFD and reliability theories. The reliability analysis is based on an advanced first-order second moment approach. Uncertainties in the structural strength and loading due to inherent variability as well as modeling and prediction errors are included in failure due to combined bending and shear. For the realistic reliability-based optimization of continuous steel box girder bridges, interactive non-linear limit state model is formulated based on the von Mises's combined stress yield criterion. Comparative results are presented when the ASD criteria are used for the optimum design of a structure under reliability constraints. In addition, this study comparatively shows the results of the optimum design for various criteria of design codes.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2012

A reliability-based optimization method for electromagnetic design is presented to take uncertainties of design parameters into account. The method can provide an optimal design satisfying a specified confidence level in the presence of uncertain parameters. To achieve the goal, the reliability index approach based on the firstorder reliability method is adopted to deal with probabilistic constraint functions and a double-loop optimization algorithm is implemented to obtain an optimum. The proposed method is applied to the TEAM Workshop Problem 22 and its accuracy and efficiency is verified with reference of Monte Carlo simulation results.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.494-504
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• 2006

This research proposes a reliability-based topology optimization (RBTO) using the finite element method. RBTO is a topology optimization based on probabilistic (or reliability) constraints. Young's modulus, thickness, and loading are considered as the uncertain variables and RBTO is applied to static and eigenvalue problems. The RBTO problems are formulated and a sensitivity analysis is performed. In order to compute probability constraints, two methods-RIA and PMA-are used. Several examples show the effectiveness of the proposed method by comparing the classical safety factor method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.412-418
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• 2011

Reliability-based Topology optimization(RBTO) is to get an optimal design satisfying uncertainties of design variables. Although RBTO based on homogenization and density distribution method has been done, RBTO based on BESO has not been reported yet. This study presents a reliability-based topology optimization(RBTO) using bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization(BESO). Topology optimization is formulated as volume minimization problem with probabilistic displacement constraint. Young's modulus, external load and thickness are considered as uncertain variables. In order to compute reliability index, four methods, i.e., RIA, PMA, SLSV and ADL(adaptive-loop), are used. Reliability-based topology optimization design process is conducted to obtain optimal topology satisfying allowable displacement and target reliability index with the above four methods, and then each result is compared with respect to numerical stability and computing time. The results of this study show that the RBTO based on BESO using the four methods can effectively be applied for topology optimization. And it was confirmed that DLSV and ADL had better numerical efficiency than SLSV. ADL and SLSV had better time cost than DLSV. Consequently, ADL method showed the best time efficiency and good numerical stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.504-509
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• 2011

The military communication equipment is required the high reliability for operating adequate functions under severe conditions. This reliability is the essential element for the quality of the product, for the uncontrolled factors, such as the clearance, damage of the material, the reduction of stiffness, which are the designer is unable to handle. In this paper, the uncertainty for the design was supposed to the probability model for the military communication equipment, and the average of the objective function was minimized for reducing design uncertainty. The reliability-based design optimization which was implemented the limit state function was formulated into the mathematical model, so the reliable optimized structure was implemented than the base-line design.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.589-595
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• 2010

This paper presents a reliability-based shape optimization (RBSO) using the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO). An actual design involves uncertain conditions such as material property, operational load, poisson's ratio and dimensional variation. The deterministic optimization (DO) is obtained without considering of uncertainties related to the uncertainty parameters. However, the RBSO can consider the uncertainty variables because it has the probabilistic constraints. In order to determine whether the probabilistic constraint is satisfied or not, simulation techniques and approximation methods are developed. In this paper, the reliability-based shape design optimization method is proposed by utilization the reliability index approach (RIA), performance measure approach (PMA), single-loop single-vector (SLSV), adaptive-loop (ADL) are adopted to evaluate the probabilistic constraint. In order to apply the ESO method to the RBSO, a sensitivity number is defined as the change of strain energy in the displacement constraint. Numerical examples are presented to compare the DO with the RBSO. The results of design example show that the RBSO model is more reliable than deterministic optimization.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2003

In the deterministic optimization of a structural system, objective function, design constraints and design variables, are treated in a nonstatistical fashion. However, such deterministic engineering optimization tends to promote the structural system with lest reliability redundancy than obtained with conventional design procedures using the factor of safety. Consequently, deterministic optimized structures will usually have higher failure probabilities than unoptimized structures. Therefore, a balance must be developed between the satisfactions of the design requirements and the objectives of reducing manufacturing cost. This paper proposes the reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) technique, which enables the optimum design that considers confidence level for the vibration characteristics of structural system. Response surface method (RSM) is utilized to approximate the performance functions describing the system characteristics in the RBDO procedure. The proposed optimization technique is applied to the pillar section design considering natural frequencies of a vehicle structure.