Evolutionary structural optimization for multi component structural systems

Abstract

Engineering design problems involve multiple components or structure elements for the consideration of manufacturing, transportation, storage and maintenance. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a design optimization procedure for multicomponent structural systems. Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO)technique has been extensively researched; relatively it proves effective in dealing with a variety of design criteria with single component systems. In this study, the extension of ESO method to the multi-component system with a range of design criteria as minimum utilization of interconnection elements and, maximum overall stiffness will be developed. In other words, ESO is based on the simple idea that the optimal structure (maximum stiffness, minimum weight) can be produced by gradually removing the ineffectively used material from the design domain. This paper has been extended and proposed to the generic design problems of connection topology. The proposed approach consists of a simple cycle of a finite element analysis followed by a rule-driven interconnection element removal process. Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO) technique proves effective in dealing with a variety of design criteria with single component systems. The primary goal of this study is to extend the ESO method to multi-component system with a range of design criteria as (1) minimum utilization of materials, (2) maximum overall stiffness, (3) minimum stress and (4) control of natural frequency.