• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

Topology optimization of structures seeking the best distribution of mass in a design space to improve the structural performance and reduce the weight of a structure is one of the most comprehensive issues in the field of structural optimization. In addition to structures stiffness as the most common objective function, frequency optimization is of great importance in variety of applications too. In this paper, an efficient multi-objective Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimization (BESO) method is developed for topology optimization of frequency and stiffness in continuum structures simultaneously. A software package including a Matlab code and Abaqus FE solver has been created for the numerical implementation of multi-objective BESO utilizing the weighted function method. At the same time, by considering the weaknesses of the optimized structure in single-objective optimizations for stiffness or frequency problems, slight modifications have been done on the numerical algorithm of developed multi-objective BESO in order to overcome challenges due to artificial localized modes, checker boarding and geometrical symmetry constraint during the progressive iterations of optimization. Numerical results show that the proposed Multiobjective BESO method is efficient and optimal solutions can be obtained for continuum structures based on an existent finite element model of the structures.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.94-101
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• 2023

Automotive wheel bearings are a critical component of vehicles that support their weight and facilitate rotation. Life and stiffness are significant performance characteristics of wheel bearings. Designing wheel bearings involves finding optimal design variables that satisfy both performances. CO₂ emission reduction and fuel efficiency regulations attribute to the recent increase in design requirements for lightweight and compact automotive parts while maintaining performance. However, achieving a design that maintains performance while reducing weight poses challenges, as performance and weight are generally inversely proportional. In this study, we perform design optimization of automotive wheel bearings considering life and stiffness. We develop a program that calculates the basic rated life and modified rated life based on international standards for evaluating the life of wheel bearings. We develop a regression equation using regression analysis to address the time-consuming stiffness analysis during repetitive analysis. We perform ANOVA and main effect analyses to understand the statistical characteristics of the developed regression equation. Furthermore, we verify its reliability by comparing the predicted and test results. We perform design optimization using the developed life prediction program, stiffness regression equation and weight regression equation. We select bearing specifications and geometry as design variables, weight as the cost function, and life and stiffness as constraints. Through design optimization, we investigate the influence of design variables on the cost function and constraints by comparing the initial and optimal design values.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.5 s.176
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• pp.1246-1253
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• 2000

Wire ropes are widely used in cable car, suspension bridge and elevator, etc. and there has been a growing need for ropes of large diameter. The theoretical procedures to obtain the stiffness coefficients of wire ropes, using previously reported theory, are programmed and the verification of the program is made. The effects of lay angle on the stiffness of strand are researched and comparisons on stiffness of rope are made according to the lay type. Axial stiffness optimization problems with coupling and torsional stiffness constraints are formulated and the effects of constraints on other stiffness coefficients on axial stiffness optimization are investigated.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2007

A multi-objective optimization technique was implemented to obtain optimal topologies of the inner reinforcement for a vehicle's hood simultaneously considering the static stiffness of bending and torsion and natural frequency. In addition, a smoothing scheme was used to suppress the checkerboard patterns in the ESO method. Two models with different curvature were chosen in order to investigate the effect of curvature on the static stiffness and natural frequency of the inner reinforcement. A scale factor was employed to properly reflect the effect of each objective function. From several combinations of weighting factors, a Pareto-optimal topology solution was obtained. As the weighting factor for the elastic strain efficiency went from 1 to 0, the optimal topologies transmitted from the optimal topology of a static stiffness problem to that of a natural frequency problem. It was also found that the higher curvature model had a larger static stiffness and natural frequency than the lower curvature model. From the results, it is concluded that the ESO method with a smoothing scheme was effectively applied to topology optimization of the inner reinforcement of a vehicle's hood.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2007

Topology optimization of the inner reinforcement for a vehicle's hood has been performed by evolutionary structural optimization(ESO) using a smoothing scheme. The purpose of this study is to obtain optimal topology of the inner reinforcement for a vehicle's hood considering the static stiffness of bending and torsion simultaneously. To do this, the multiobjective optimization technique was implemented. Optimal topologies were obtained by the ESO method. From several combinations of weighting factors, a Pareto-optimal solution was obtained. Also, a smoothing scheme was implemented to suppress the checkerboard pattern in the procedure of topology optimization. It is concluded that ESO method with a smoothing scheme is effectively applied to topology optimization of the inner reinforcement of a vehicle's hood considering the static stiffness of bending and torsion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2023

This paper handles the results of an extensive parametric study on the rotational stiffness of the flexible base connection using ABAQUS program. The results of the parametric study show the relation between the applied moment and the relative rotation for 96 different base connections. The configurations of the studied connections considered different numbers, diameters, and spacing of the anchor bolts along with different thicknesses of the base plate to investigate the effect of these parameters on the rotational stiffness behavior. The results of the previous parametric research used through the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to detect different equation formulation of the moment-rotation (M-Ɵ_r) equation to detect optimum equation simulates the general nonlinear rotational behavior of the flexible base connection considering all variables used in the parametric study. WOA is a relatively new promising algorithm, which is used in different types of optimization problems. For more verification, the classical genetic algorithm (GA) is used to make a comparison with WOA results. The results show that WOA is capable of getting an optimum equation of the M-Ɵ_r relation, which can be used to simulate the actual rotational stiffness of the flexible base connections. The rotational stiffness at H/150 can be calculated using WOA (1) method and be used as a design aid for engineering design.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.717-723
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• 2010

Radial stiffness of angular contact ball bearings are decreased remarkably at high speed revolution, because the inner and outer ball contact angle with races arc changed under the ball centrifugal forces at high speed. In the past, the optimizations of spindle units were done under the assumption of unchanged bearing stiffness for the whole speed range. But the bearing stiffness is changed and the dimension of optimum spindle is also changed with speed. In the design phase, only one model of many optimum spindle models with speed should be selected. As optimization criterion, the area of transfer function at spindle nose is proposed to estimate simply and accurately improvement of dynamic characteristics in spindle units. Finally, according to many analyses of diverse spindle models with decreased bearing stiffness, the spindle with shorter bearing span is better than longer bearing span from the viewpoint of dynamic characteristics.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.475-487
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• 2011

In a flexible multi-body dynamic system the typical topological optimization method for structures cannot be directly applied, as the stiffness varies with position. In this paper, the topological optimization of the flexible multi-body dynamic system is converted into structural optimization using the equivalent static load method. First, the actual boundary conditions of the control system and the approximate stiffness curve of the mechanism are obtained from a flexible multi-body dynamical simulation. Second, the finite element models are built using the absolute nodal coordination for different positions according to the stiffness curve. For efficiency, the static reanalysis method is utilized to solve these finite element equilibrium equations. Specifically, the finite element equilibrium equations of key points in the stiffness curve are fully solved as the initial solution, and the following equilibrium equations are solved using a reanalysis method with an error controlled epsilon algorithm. In order to identify the efficiency of the elements, a non-dimensional measurement is introduced. Finally, an improved evolutional structural optimization (ESO) method is used to solve the optimization problem. The presented method is applied to the optimal design of a die bonder. The numerical results show that the presented method is practical and efficient when optimizing the design of the mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.563-564
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.555-556
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• 2007