• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

In the present study, an aerodynamic design optimization of UAV rotor blades was conducted using a genetic algorithm(GA) coupled with computational fluid dynamics(CFD). To reduce computational cost in making databases, a function approximation was applied using artificial neural networks(ANN) based on a radial basis function network. Three dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes(RANS) solver was used to solve the flow around UAV rotor blades. Design directions were specified to maximize thrust coefficient maintaining torque coefficient and minimize torque coefficient maintaining thrust coefficient. Design variables such as twist angle, thickness and chord length were adopted to perform a planform optimization. As a result of an optimization regarding to maximizing thrust coefficient, thrust coefficient was increased about 4.5% than base configuration. In case of an optimization minimizing torque coefficient, torque coefficient was decreased about 7.4% comparing with base configuration.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.4
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• pp.445-454
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• 2020

Structural damage identification (SDI) is a crucial step in structural health monitoring. However, some of the existing SDI methods cannot provide enough identification accuracy and efficiency in practice. A novel whale optimization algorithm (WOA) based method is proposed for SDI by weighting modal data and flexibility assurance criterion in this study. At first, the SDI problem is mathematically converted into a constrained optimization problem. Unlike traditional objective function defined using frequencies and mode shapes, a new objective function on the SDI problem is formulated by weighting both modal data and flexibility assurance criterion. Then, the WOA method, due to its good performance of fast convergence and global searching ability, is adopted to provide an accurate solution to the SDI problem, different predator mechanisms are formulated and their probability thresholds are selected. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is assessed by numerical simulations on a simply-supported beam and a 31-bar truss structures. For the given multiple structural damage conditions under environmental noises, the WOA-based SDI method can effectively locate structural damages and accurately estimate severities of damages. Compared with other optimization methods, such as particle swarm optimization and dragonfly algorithm, the proposed WOA-based method outperforms in accuracy and efficiency, which can provide a more effective and potential tool for the SDI problem.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.55-70
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• 2014

The paper presents a multi-objective optimization strategy for a multi-type sensor placement for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of long span bridges. The problem is formulated for simultaneous placement of strain sensors and accelerometers (heterogeneous network) based on application demands for SHM system. Modal Identification (MI) and Accurate Mode Shape Expansion (AMSE) were chosen as the application demands for SHM. The optimization problem is solved through the use of integer Genetic Algorithm (GA) to maximize a common metric to ensure adequate MI and AMSE. The performance of the joint optimization problem solved by GA is compared with other established methods for homogenous sensor placement. The results indicate that the use of a multi-type sensor system can improve the quality of SHM. It has also been demonstrated that use of GA improves the overall quality of the sensor placement compared to other methods for optimization of sensor placement.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2010

This paper presents an extended computing procedure for the global optimization of the triple response system (TRS) where the response functions are nonconvex (nonconcave) quadratics and the input factors satisfy a radial region of interest. The TRS arising from response surface modeling can be approximated using a nonlinear mathematical program involving one primary (objective) function and two secondary (constraints) functions. An optimization algorithm named triple response surface algorithm (TRSALG) is proposed to determine the global optimum for the nondegenerate TRS. In TRSALG, the Lagrange multipliers of target (secondary) functions are computed by using the Hooke-Jeeves search method, and the Lagrange multiplier of the radial constraint is located by using the trust region (TR) method at the same time. To ensure global optimality that can be attained by TRSALG, included is the means for detecting the degenerate case. In the field of numerical optimization, as the family of TR approach always exhibits excellent mathematical properties during optimization steps, thus the proposed algorithm can guarantee the global optimal solution where the optimality conditions are satisfied for the nondegenerate TRS. The computing procedure is illustrated in terms of examples found in the quality literature where the comparison results with a gradient-based method are used to calibrate TRSALG.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.759-777
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• 2013

In this paper, a topology optimization method based on the element independent nodal density (EIND) is developed for continuum solids with multiple load cases and multiple constraints. The optimization problem is formulated ad minimizing the volume subject to displacement constraints. Nodal densities of the finite element mesh are used a the design variable. The nodal densities are interpolated into any point in the design domain by the Shepard interpolation scheme and the Heaviside function. Without using additional constraints (such ad the filtering technique), mesh-independent, checkerboard-free, distinct optimal topology can be obtained. Adopting the rational approximation for material properties (RAMP), the topology optimization procedure is implemented using a solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method and a dual programming optimization algorithm. The computational efficiency is greatly improved by multithread parallel computing with OpenMP to run parallel programs for the shared-memory model of parallel computation. Finally, several examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed techniques.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.329-334
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• 2006

Rail clamps are mechanical components installed to fix the container crane to its bottoms from wind blast or slip. Rail clamps should be designed to survive the harsh wind loading condition. In this study, the jaw structure that is one part of wedge-typed rail clamp is optimized, considering strength under the severe wind loading condition. According to the classification of structural optimization, the structural optimization of a jaw belongs to shape optimization. In the conventional structural optimization methods, they have difficulties in defining complex shape design variables and preventing mesh distortions. To overcome the difficulties, the metamodel using kriging interpolation method is introduced, replacing true response by approximate one. This research presents the shape optimization of a jaw using iterative kriging interpolation models and simulated annealing algorithm. The new kriging models are iteratively constructed by refining the former kriging models. This process is continued until the convergence criteria are satisfied. The optimum results obtained by the suggested method are compared with those obtained by the DOE (design of experiments) and VT (variation technology) methods built in ANSYS WORKBENCH.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.289-303
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• 2015

This study presents a strategy so-called Subspace Search Mechanism (SSM) for reducing the computational time for convergence of population based metaheusristic algorithms. The selected metaheuristic for this study is the Cuckoo Search algorithm (CS) dealing with size optimization of trusses. The complexity of structural optimization problems can be partially due to the presence of high-dimensional design variables. SSM approach aims to reduce dimension of the problem. Design variables are categorized to predefined groups (subspaces). SSM focuses on the multiple use of the metaheuristic at hand for each subspace. Optimizer updates the design variables for each subspace independently. Updating rules require candidate designs evaluation. Each candidate design is the assemblage of responsible set of design variables that define the subspace of interest. SSM is incorporated to the Cuckoo Search algorithm for size optimizing of three small, moderate and large space trusses. Optimization results indicate that SSM enables the CS to work with less number of population (42%), as a result reducing the time of convergence, in exchange for some accuracy (1.5%). It is shown that the loss of accuracy can be lessened with increasing the order of complexity. This suggests its applicability to other algorithms and other complex finite element-based engineering design problems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.709-727
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• 2015

The main aim of this study is to introduce optimal design of homogeneous earth dams with oblique and horizontal drains based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) incorporating weighted least squares support vector machine (WLS-SVM). To achieve this purpose, the upstream and downstream slopes of earth dam, the length of oblique and horizontal drains and angle among the drains are considered as the design variables in the optimization problem of homogeneous earth dams. Furthermore, the seepage through dam body and the weight of dam as objective functions are minimized in the optimization process simultaneously. In the optimization procedure, the stability coefficient of the upstream and downstream slopes and the seepage through dam body as the hydraulic responses of homogeneous earth dam are required. Hence, the hydraulic responses are predicted using WLS-SVM approach. The optimal results of illustrative examples demonstrate the efficiency and computational advantages of PSO with WLS-SVM in the optimal design of homogeneous earth dams with drains.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3665-3674
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• 2021

One of the important parts of the in-core fuel management is loading pattern optimization (LPO). The loading pattern optimization as a reasonable design of the in-core fuel management can improve both economic and safe aspects of the nuclear reactor. This work proposes the hybrid of fuzzy logic controller with harmony search algorithm (HS) for loading pattern optimization in a pressurized water reactor. The music improvisation process to find a pleasing harmony is inspiring the harmony search algorithm. In this work, the adjustment of the harmony search algorithm parameters such as the bandwidth and the pitch adjustment rate are increasing performance of the proposed algorithm which is done through a fuzzy logic controller. Hence, membership functions and fuzzy rules are designed to improve the performance of the HS algorithm and achieve optimal results. The objective of the method is finding an optimum core arrangement according to safety and economic aspects such as reduction of power peaking factor (PPF) and increase of effective multiplication factor (Keff). The proposed approach effectiveness has been tried in two cases, Michalewicz's bivariate function problem and NEACRP LWR core. The results show that by using fuzzy harmony search algorithm the value of the fitness function is improved by 15.35%. Finally, with regard to the new solutions proposed in this research it could be used as a trustworthy method for other optimization issues of engineering field.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.216-239
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• 2021

The present work addresses the challenging problem of coordinating power allocation with interference management in multi-robot networks by applying the promising expansion capabilities of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and full duplex systems, which achieves it for maximizing the throughput of networks under the impacts of Doppler frequency shifts and external jamming. The proposed power allocation with interference coordination formulation accounts for three types of the interference, including cross-tier, co-tier, and mixed-tier interference signals with cluster head nodes operating in different full-duplex modes, and their signal-to-noise-ratios are respectively derived under the impacts of Doppler frequency shifts and external jamming. In addition, various optimization algorithms, including two centralized iterative optimization algorithms and three decentralized optimization algorithms, are applied for solving the complex and non-convex combinatorial optimization problem associated with the power allocation and interference coordination. Simulation results demonstrate that the overall network throughput increases gradually to some degree with increasing numbers of MIMO antennas. In addition, increasing the number of clusters to a certain extent increases the overall network throughput, although internal interference becomes a severe problem for further increases in the number of clusters. Accordingly, applications of multi-robot networks require that a balance should be preserved between robot deployment density and communication capacity.