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An evaluation of constraint aggregation strategies for wing box mass minimization

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Abstract

Constraint aggregation makes it feasible to solve large-scale stress-constrained mass minimization problems efficiently using gradient-based optimization where the gradients are computed using adjoint methods. However, it is not always clear which constraint aggregation method is more effective, and which values to use for the aggregation parameters. In this work, the accuracy and efficiency of several aggregation methods are compared for an aircraft wing design problem. The effect of the type of aggregation function, the number of constraints, and the value of the aggregation parameter are studied. Recommendations are provided for selecting a constraint aggregation scheme that balances computational effort with the accuracy of the computed optimal design. Using the recommended aggregation method and associated parameters, a mass of within 0.5 % of the true optimal design was obtained.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Gaetan K. W. Kenway for his assistance in setting up the CRM wing geometry used in this paper. Computations were performed on the GPC supercomputer at the SciNet HPC Consortium. SciNet is funded by: the Canada Foundation for Innovation under the auspices of Compute Canada; the Government of Ontario; and the University of Toronto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Andrew B. Lambe

  2. School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Graeme J. Kennedy

  3. Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Joaquim R. R. A. Martins

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  1. Andrew B. Lambe
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  2. Graeme J. Kennedy
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  3. Joaquim R. R. A. Martins
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Correspondence to Andrew B. Lambe.

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Lambe, A.B., Kennedy, G.J. & Martins, J.R.R.A. An evaluation of constraint aggregation strategies for wing box mass minimization. Struct Multidisc Optim 55, 257–277 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-016-1495-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-016-1495-1

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