Michael S. Eldred, David E. Outka, William J. Bohnhoff,
Walter R. Witkowski, Vicente J. Romero, Eric R. Ponslet,
and Ken S. Chen
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM 87185
Computer Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 3, August 1996.
Abstract: The benefits of applying optimization to computational models are well known, but their range of widespread application to date has been limited. This work attempts to extend the disciplinary areas to which optimization algorithms may be readily applied through the development and application of advanced optimization strategies capable of handling the computational difficulties associated with complex simulation codes. Towards this goal, a flexible software framework is under continued development for the application of optimization techniques (and other iterative computational methods) to broad classes of engineering applications, including those with high computational expense and nonsmooth, nonconvex design space features. Object-oriented software design with C++ has been adopted as a tool to provide a flexible, extensible, and robust multidisciplinary toolkit that establishes the protocol for wrapping parameter optimization around computationally-intensive simulations. The object-oriented approach is well-suited for handling this large software undertaking, in which a wide assortment of optimization algorithms, approximation techniques, and hybridized strategies must be generically interfaced with broad classes of analysis capabilities. Demonstrations of optimization using the software are presented in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, nonlinear solid mechanics, and structural dynamics. Optimal results are presented along with technical lessons that were learned in the optimization process.
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