• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.239-268
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• 2007

This paper deals with optimal stacking sequence design of laminate composite structures. The stacking sequence optimisation of laminate composites is formulated as a combinatorial problem and is solved using Simulated Annealing (SA), an algorithm devised based on inspiration of physical process of annealing of solids. The combinatorial constraints are handled using a correction strategy. The SA algorithm is strengthened by embedding Tabu search in order to prevent recycling of recently visited solutions and the resulting algorithm is referred to as tabu embedded simulated Annealing (TSA) algorithm. Computational performance of the proposed TSA algorithm is enhanced through cache-fetch implementation. Numerical experiments have been conducted by considering rectangular composite panels and composite cylindrical shell with different ply numbers and orientations. Numerical studies indicate that the TSA algorithm is quite effective in providing practical designs for lay-up sequence optimisation of laminate composites. The effect of various neighbourhood search algorithms on the convergence characteristics of TSA algorithm is investigated. The sensitiveness of the proposed optimisation algorithm for various parameter settings in simulated annealing is explored through parametric studies. Later, the TSA algorithm is employed for multi-criteria optimisation of hybrid composite cylinders for simultaneously optimising cost as well as weight with constraint on buckling load. The two objectives are initially considered individually and later collectively to solve as a multi-criteria optimisation problem. Finally, the computational efficiency of the TSA based stacking sequence optimisation algorithm has been compared with the genetic algorithm and found to be superior in performance.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.715-726
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• 2010

In this paper, a comparative study of metallic and non-metallic stiffened plates under a lateral pressure load is performed using conventional statistically determinate and SQP(Sequential Quadratic Programming) optimisation approaches. Initially, a metallic flat-bar stiffened plate is exemplified from the superstructure of a marine vessel and, subsequently, its structural topology is varied as hat-section stiffened FRP(Fibre Reinforced Plastics) single skin plates and monocoque FRP sandwich plates having a PVC foam core. These proposed structural alternatives are analysed using elastic closed-form solutions and SQP optimisation method under stress and deflection limits obtained from practice to calculate and optimise geometry dimensions and weights. Results obtained from the comparative study provide useful information for marine designers especially at the preliminary design stage where various building materials and structural configurations are dealt with.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.273-281
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• 2017

In this work, a comparative study of multi-objective meta-heuristics (MOMHs) for optimum design of a walking tractor handlebar is conducted in order to reduce the structural mass and increase structural static and dynamic stiffness. The design problem has objective functions as maximising structural natural frequencies, minimising structural mass, bending deflection and torsional deflection with stress constraints. The problem is classified as a many-objective optimisation since there are more than three objectives. Design variables are structural shape and size. Several well established multi-objective optimisers are employed to solve the proposed many-objective optimisation problems of the walking tractor handlebar. The results are compared whereas optimum design solutions of the walking tractor handlebar are illustrated.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.38-46
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• 2003

Aim of this article is to propose Micro-Genetic Simulated Annealing (${\mu}GSA$) as a hybrid metaheuristics approach to find the global optimum of nonlinear optimisation problems. This approach combines the features of modern metaheuristics such as micro-genetic algorithm (${\mu}GAs$) and simulated annealing (SA) with the general robustness of parallel exploration and asymptotic convergence, respectively. Therefore, ${\mu}GSA$ approach can help in avoiding the premature convergence and can search for better global solution, because of its wide spread applicability, global perspective and inherent parallelism. For the superior performance of the ${\mu}GSA$, the five well-know benchmark test functions that were tested and compared with the two global optimisation approaches: scatter search (SS) and hybrid scatter genetic tabu (HSGT) approach. A practical application to structural sandwich panel is also examined by optimism the weight function. From the simulation results, it has been concluded that the proposed ${\mu}GSA$ approach is an effective optimisation tool for soloing continuous nonlinear global optimisation problems in suitable computational time frame.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.385-404
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• 2018

The study investigated an area of sustainable structural design that is often overlooked in practical engineering applications. Specifically, a novel method to simultaneously optimise the cost and embodied carbon performance of steel building structures was explored in this paper. To achieve this, a parametric design model was developed to analyse code compliant structural configurations based on project specific constraints and rigorous testing of various steel beam sections, floor construction typologies (precast or composite) and column layouts that could not be performed manually by engineering practitioners. Detailed objective functions were embedded in the model to compute the cost and life cycle carbon emissions of the different material types used in the structure. Results from a comparative numerical analysis of a real case study illustrated that the proposed optimisation approach could guide structural engineers towards areas of the solution space with realistic design configurations, enabling them to effectively evaluate trade-offs between cost and carbon performance. This significant contribution implied that the optimisation model could reduce the time required for the design and analysis of multiple structural configurations especially during the early stages of a project. Overall, the paper suggested that the deployment of automated design procedures can enhance the quality as well as the efficiency of the optimisation analysis.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.08a
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• pp.70.1-70.1
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• 2008

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.315-327
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• 2016

Damage detection and localisation in structures is essential since it can be a means for preventive maintenance of those structures under service conditions. The use of structural modal data for detecting the damage is one of the most efficient methods. This paper presents comparative performance of various state-of-the-art meta-heuristics for use in structural damage detection based on changes in modal data. The metaheuristics include differential evolution (DE), artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC), real-code ant colony optimisation (ACOR), charged system search (ChSS), league championship algorithm (LCA), simulated annealing (SA), particle swarm optimisation (PSO), evolution strategies (ES), teaching-learning-based optimisation (TLBO), adaptive differential evolution (JADE), evolution strategy with covariance matrix adaptation (CMAES), success-history based adaptive differential evolution (SHADE) and SHADE with linear population size reduction (L-SHADE). Three truss structures are used to pose several test problems for structural damage detection. The meta-heuristics are then used to solve the test problems treated as optimisation problems. Comparative performance is carried out where the statistically best algorithms are identified.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.325-354
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• 2004

Slabs in buildings and bridge decks, which are restrained against lateral displacements at the edges, have ultimate strengths far in excess of those predicted by analytical methods based on yield line theory. The increase in strength has been attributed to membrane action, which is due to the in-plane forces developed at the supports. The benefits of compressive membrane action are usually not taken into account in currently available design methods developed based on plastic flow theories assuming concrete to be a rigid-plastic material. By extending the existing knowledge of compressive membrane action, it is possible to design slabs in building and bridge structures economically with less than normal reinforcement. Recent research on building and bridge structures reflects the importance of membrane action in design. This paper describes the finite element modelling of membrane action in reinforced concrete slabs through optimisation of a simple concrete model. Through a series of parametric studies using the simple concrete model in the finite element simulation of eight fully clamped concrete slabs with significant membrane action, a set of fixed numerical model parameter values is identified and computational conditions established, which would guarantee reliable strength prediction of arbitrary slabs. The reliability of the identified values to simulate membrane action (for prediction purposes) is further verified by the direct simulation of 42 other slabs, which gave an average value of 0.9698 for the ratio of experimental to predicted strengths and a standard deviation of 0.117. A 'deflection factor' is also established for the slabs, relating the predicted peak deflection to experimental values, which, (for the same level of fixity at the supports), can be used for accurate displacement determination. The proposed optimised concrete model and finite element procedure can be used as a tool to simulate membrane action in slabs in building and bridge structures having variable support and loading conditions including fire. Other practical applications of the developed finite element procedure and design process are also discussed.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2021

This research aims to demonstrate the optimal geometrical design of splayed multiple cross-sectional pin fin heat sinks (SMCSPFHS), which are a type of side-inlet-side-outlet heat sink (SISOHS). The optimiser strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm2 (SPEA2)is employed to explore a set of Pareto optimalsolutions. Objective functions are the fan pumping power and junction temperature. Function evaluations can be accomplished using computational fluid dynamics(CFD) analysis. Design variablesinclude pin cross-sectional areas, the number of fins, fin pitch, thickness of heatsink base, inlet air speed, fin heights, and fin orientations with respect to the base. Design constraints are defined in such a way as to make a heat sink usable and easy to manufacture. The optimum results obtained from SPEA2 are compared with the straight pin fin design results obtained from hybrid population-based incremental learning and differential evolution (PBIL-DE), SPEA2, and an unrestricted population size evolutionary multiobjective optimisation algorithm (UPSEMOA). The results indicate that the splayed pin-fin design using SPEA2 issuperiorto those reported in the literature.

• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2004

In this work, a rational procedure has been formulated for the selection of points approximating slice contours cut in LOM (Laminated Object manufacturing) with first order approximation. It is suggested that the number of points representing a slice contour can be 'minimised' or 'optmised' by equating the horizontal chordal deviation (HCD) to the user-defined surface form tolerance. It has been shown that such optimization leads to substantial reduction in slice height calculations and NC codes file size for cutting out the slices. Due to optimization, the number of contour points varies from layer to layer, so that points on successive layer contours have to be matched by four sided ruled surface patches and triangular patches. The technological problems associated with the cutting out of triangular patches have been addressed. A robust algorithm has been developed for the determination of slice height for optimum and arbitrary numbers of contour points with different strategies for error calculations. It has been shown that optimisation may even lead to detection and appropriate representation of elusive surface features. An index of optimisation has been defined and calculations of the same have been tabulated.