The increasing demands placed upon design engineers to evolve optimal solutions to prescribed problem specifications necessitates more definitive analysis of system response to modifications.Traditional solution techniques including discretised methods are required to be repeatedly evaluated in multiple re-analysis solution environments in the search for optimal behavioural response. Modern developments in sequential linear programming techniques in both unconstrained and constrained environments have enabled the methods of optimisation to be applied in a structural context.Such advances are now being limited by the present state of solution to criterion and constraint functions. The state of the art in structural optimisation is reviewed and the application of current methods in the presence of discontinuities examined.The extension of such methods to the discretised problem is advocated.The search for an effective and economical re-solution vehicle is described with reference to the classical formulation of sensi tivi ties defined in a discretised context. The development of a solution technique based on sensitivity is described and limitations examined.The extension of sensitivities into the clearly defined non-linear state with large design variable changes is discussed and the development of a residual correction technique to linearise the sensitivities documented.Utilising residual correction the sensitivity method is extended into the concept of adjoint structures and predictive solution models for design variable changes. Quantitative and qualitative techniques for design performance assessment are evolved and an interactive program developed to graphically display the effect of design variable changes on design parameter response. A new design philosophy based upon design system syntheais is advocated and demonstrated wi th reference to particular design problems.Exploratory work is discussed with reference to the general application and the interfacing of the developed software system with alternate systems.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:370176 |
| Date | January 1985 |
| Creators | McCafferty, R. |
| Publisher | University of Wolverhampton |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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