MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY & TRADE

INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY OF HO CHI MINH CITY

Engineering Optimization
General Introduction

Lecturer : PhD. Vo Quoc Thang

Phone : 0783887167
 Course Overview

Chapter 1: Optimization problem

Chapter 2: Problem checking

Chapter 3: Model simplification

Chapter 4: Optimization of unconstrained problems

Chapter 5: Single-variable methods

Chapter 6 & 7: Multiple variable methods

Chapter 8: Optimization of constrained problems

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 2

 Course Objectives

Understanding of principles and possibilities of optimization

Knowledge of optimization algorithms, ability to choose proper algorithm for given

problem

Practical experience with optimization algorithms

Practical experience in application of optimization to design problems

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 3

 Result evaluation form

• Process evaluation : (20%)

✓ 3 x (15 minutes-writing test)

• Median (writing test) : (30%)

• Final (writing test) : (50%)

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 4

 Class Rules

EXPECTATIONS
• Be on time.
• Everyone Must Participate.
• Silence Means Agreement.
• Raise your hand using the “raise hand” feature on MS
Teams to ask questions
• Do not multi-task.
• Mute yourself.

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 5

 Course Material

[1] Vo Quoc Thang, Engineering Optimization lecture notes.

[2] Belegundu A. and T. Chandrupatla, Optimization Concepts and
Applications in Engineering, Prentice Hall.
[3] P.Y. Papalambros & D.J. Wilde, Principles of Optimal Design: Modeling and
Computation, Cambridge University Press.

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 6

 What is optimization?

● “Making things better”

● “Generating more profit”

● “Determining the best”

● “Do more with less”

● Papalambros: “The determination of values for design

variables which minimize (maximize) the objective,
while satisfying all constraints”

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 7

 Historical perspective

● Ancient Greek philosophers: geometrical optimization

problems
▪ Zenodorus, 200 B.C.:
“A sphere encloses the greatest
volume for a given surface area”

● Newton, Leibniz, Bernoulli, De l’Hospital (1697):

“Brachistochrone Problem”:
(đường đoản thời)

g
?
PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 8
 Historical perspective

● Lagrange (1750): constrained minimization

● Cauchy (1847): steepest descent (pp giảm độ dốc mạnh)

● Dantzig (1947): Simplex method (LP) (pp đa diện)

● Kuhn, Tucker (1951): optimality conditions (điều kiện tối ưu)

● Karmakar (1984): interior point method (LP) (pp điểm nội tiếp)

● Bendsoe, Kikuchi (1988): topology optimization

(tối ưu hóa hình học)

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 9

 What can be achieved?

● Optimization techniques can be used for:

– Getting a design/system to work better

– Reaching the optimal performance

– Making a design/system reliable and robust

● Also provide insight in

– Design problem
(vật lý cơ bản)
– Underlying physics

– Model weaknesses

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 10

 Optimization problem

(tham biến thiết kế)

● Design variables: variables with which the design
problem is parameterized: x = ( x1 , x2 , , xn )
(hàm mục tiêu)
● Objective: quantity that is to be minimized (maximized)
Usually denoted by: f ( x)
( “cost function”)
(ràng buộc kỹ thuật)
● Constraint: condition that has to be satisfied

– Inequality constraint: g (x)  0

– Equality constraint: h(x) = 0

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 11

 Optimization problem

● General form of optimization problem:

min f (x)
x

subject to : g ( x)  0
(được ràng buộc bởi)
h ( x) = 0
x X   n

(x  x  x)
PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 12
 Solving optimization problems

● Optimization problems are typically solved using an

iterative algorithm:
(thuật toán lặp)
Responses
Constants
Model f , g, h

Design Derivatives of
variables responses
x (design sensi-
Optimizer tivities)
f g h
, ,
xi xi xi

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 13

 Curse of dimensionality

Looks complicated … why not just sample the design

space, and take the best one?

● Consider problem with n design variables

● Sample each variable with m samples

● Number of computations required: mn

Take 1 s per computation,

10 variables, 10 samples:
total time 317 years!

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 14

 Parallel computing

● Still, for large problems,

optimization requires lots
of computing power

● Parallel computing

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 15

 Optimization in the design process

Conventional designdesign
Optimization-based process:
process:
Identify: Collect data to describe
1. Design variables the system
2. Objective function
3. Constraints Estimate initial design

Analyze the system

Check
Checkthe
performance
constraints
criteria
Does the design satisfy
Is design satisfactory?
convergence criteria? Done

Change
Changedesign
the design
based
using
on experience
an optimization
/
heuristicsmethod
/ wild guesses

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 16

 Structural optimization

● Structural optimization = optimization techniques

applied to structures
L t
● Different categories:
E,  R
– Sizing optimization h
r
– Material optimization

– Shape optimization

– Topology optimization

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 19

 Shape optimization

Yamaha R1

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 20

 Topology optimization examples

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 21

 Classification

● Problems:

– Constrained vs. unconstrained

– Single level vs. multilevel

– Single objective vs. multi-objective

– Deterministic vs. stochastic

● Responses:

– Linear vs. nonlinear

– Convex vs. nonconvex (later!)

– Smooth vs. nonsmooth

● Variables:

– Continuous vs. discrete (integer)

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 22

 Practical example: Airbus A380

● Wing stiffening ribs

of Airbus A380:

● Objective: reduce weight

● Constraints: stress, buckling

Leading
edge ribs

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 23

 Airbus A380 example (cont.)

● Topology and shape optimization

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 24

 Airbus A380 example (cont.)

● Topology optimization:

● Sizing / shape
optimization:

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 25

 Airbus A380 example (cont.)

● Result: 500 kg weight savings!

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 26

 Other examples

● Jaguar F1 FRC front wing:

reduce weight
constraints on
max. displacements

5% weight saved

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 27

 Other examples (cont.)

● Design optimization of packaging products

(Van Dijk & Van Keulen):

● Objective: minimize
material used

● Constraints:
stress, buckling

● Result: 20% saved

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 28

 SMA active catheter optimization

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 29

 What makes a design
optimization problem interesting?

● Good design optimization problems often show a

conflict of interest / contradicting requirements:
– Aircraft wing: stiffness vs. weight

– F1 car: idem

– Oil bottle: stiffness / buckling load vs. material usage

● Otherwise, the problem could be trivial!

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 31

 Model example

L
E,  h, b F, U

Steel
h
U(x), M(x), V(x)
b
FL3 FL3
Mathematical model: U= =
3EI  bh3 
3E  
 12 

U = K ( E, L, b, h) −1 F
Finite element model:

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 35

 Model example (2)

L
E,  h, b F, U

Steel
h
U(x), M(x), V(x)
b

● System (state) variables: U(x), M(x), V(x)

● System parameters: h, b, L

● System constants: E, 

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 36

 Features of computer models

● Finite accuracy due to:

– Discretization in time and space

– Finite number of iterations

(eigenvalues, nonlinear models)
– Numerical round-off errors, ill-conditioning

● Responses can be “noisy”:

– Due to different discretization in space and/or time

(e.g. remeshing)

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 37

 Noisy response

● Example: effect of remeshing

Normalized
stress
constraint

Hole radius
PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 38
 Features of computer models (cont.)

● Computational models are (very) time consuming

● Often design sensitivities can be calculated

– Cost of design sensitivity analysis?

– Accuracy / consistency of sensitivities

Exact
Numerical
model
Response

Design variable

PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 39

 Einstein’s advice

“Everything
should be
made as
simple as
possible, but
not simpler”

● Model simplification important for optimization!

More in next lectures.
PhD. Vo Quoc Thang General Introduction 41