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Simultaneous topology and size optimization of locomotive structure using multinary genetic algorithms

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Abstract

Structural optimization of a typical locomotive carbody subjected to various operational loads is investigated using a simultaneous topology and size optimization approach. The proposed approach builds on a string representation of the structure in which the presence or absence of a structural element between specific nodes, as well as its cross-section, are represented by integers. Strings representing various structure topologies are then evolved according to a modified Genetic algorithm with improved genetic operators. The efficiency of the proposed model is verified through applying it to optimize the carbody structure of ER24PC locomotive. Operational load cases and performance criteria are adopted from the European standard EN12663. It is shown that the results based on the present optimal design have higher safety factors compared to the original design without a significant increase in weight. Besides, the computational cost of the optimization process is shown to be considerably less than that of the classical binary Genetic algorithm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development Centre, MAPNA Locomotive Company, Karaj, Iran

    Abolfazl Rezaei Aderiani

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Masoud Shariatpanahi & Ali Parvizi

Authors
  1. Abolfazl Rezaei Aderiani
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  2. Masoud Shariatpanahi
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  3. Ali Parvizi
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Correspondence to Ali Parvizi.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Gang-Won Jang

Abolfazl Rezaei Aderiani is a structural design and finite element engineer of rolling stocks at Center of Research and Development in MAPNA Locomotive Company. He graduated in M.Sc. of Mechanical Engineering from University of Tehran (Iran) in 2012. His research activities are in fields of finite element simulations, design optimization, optimization algorithms and Solid mechanics.

Masoud S. Panahi is an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran. He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tehran in 1986 and 1988, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada in 1995. His research areas include surrogatebased optimization and evolutionary computation.

Ali Parvizi is an Assistant Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran (Iran). He received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tehran (Iran) in 2011. His main research activities include theoretical, numerical and experimental analysis of bulk and sheet metal forming processes. Thermo-elastoplastic analysis of structural elements made of FG materials as well as design and analysis of railway rolling stock components are the other research interest of him.

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Aderiani, A.R., Shariatpanahi, M. & Parvizi, A. Simultaneous topology and size optimization of locomotive structure using multinary genetic algorithms. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 1283–1291 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0227-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0227-9

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