Robust Design for Multiscale and Multidisciplinary Applications

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 832-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Carolyn Seepersad ◽  
HaeJin Choi ◽  
Farrokh Mistree

The intent in robust design is to improve the quality of products and processes by reducing their sensitivity to variations, thereby reducing the effects of variability without removing its sources. Robust design is especially useful for integrating information from designers working at multiple length and time scales. Inevitably this involves the integration of uncertain information. This uncertainty is derived from many sources and robust design may be classified based on these sources—uncertainty in noise or environmental and other noise factors (type I); uncertainty in design variables or control factors (type II); and uncertainty introduce by modeling methods (type III). Each of these types of uncertainty can be mitigated by robust design. Of particular interest are the challenges associated with the design of multidisciplinary and multiscale systems; these challenges and opportunities are examined in the context of materials design.

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
J. K. Allen ◽  
Kwok-Leung Tsui ◽  
F. Mistree

In this paper, we introduce a small variation to current approaches broadly called Taguchi Robust Design Methods. In these methods, there are two broad categories of problems associated with simultaneously minimizing performance variations and bringing the mean on target, namely, Type I—minimizing variations in performance caused by variations in noise factors (uncontrollable parameters). Type II—minimizing variations in performance caused by variations in control factors (design variables). In this paper, we introduce a variation to the existing approaches to solve both types of problems. This variation embodies the integration of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with the compromise Decision Support Problem (DSP). Our approach is especially useful for design problems where there are no closed-form solutions and system performance is computationally expensive to evaluate. The design of a solar powered irrigation system is used as an example.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gehendra Sharma ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree

Abstract The design of a connected engineered system requires numerous design decisions that influence one another. In a connected system that comprises numerous interacting decisions involving concurrency and hierarchy, accounting for interactions while also managing uncertainties, it is imperative to make robust decisions. In this article, we present a method for robust design using coupled decisions to identify design decisions that are relatively insensitive to uncertainties. To account for the influence among decisions, design decisions are modelled as coupled decisions. They are defined using three criteria: the types of decisions, the strength of interactions and the decision levels. In order to make robust decisions, robust design methods are classified based on sources of uncertainty, namely, Type I (noise factors), Type II (design variables) and Type III (function relationship between design variables and responses). The design of a one-stage reduction gearbox is used as a demonstration example. To illustrate the proposed method for robust design using coupled decisions, we present the simultaneous selection of gear material and gearbox geometry in a coupled decision environment while managing the uncertainties involved in designing gearboxes.


Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Kwok-Leung Tsui ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree

Abstract In this paper we introduce a comprehensive and rigorous robust design procedure to overcome some limitations of the current approaches. A comprehensive approach is general enough to model the two major types of robust design applications, namely, • robust design associated with the minimization of the deviation of performance caused by the deviation of noise factors (uncontrollable parameters), AND • robust design due to the minimization of the deviation of performance caused by the deviation of control factors (design variables). We achieve mathematical rigor by using, as a foundation, principles from the design of experiments and optimization. Specifically, we integrate the Response Surface Method (RSM) with the compromise Decision Support Problem (DSP). Our approach is especially useful for design problems where there are no closed-form solutions and system performance is computationally expensive to evaluate. The design of a solar powered irrigation system is used as an example. Our focus in this paper is on illustrating our approach rather than on the results per se.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-525
Author(s):  
Masato Inoue ◽  
Wataru Suzuki ◽  
◽  

To achieve a universal design that satisfies diverse user requirements associated with aging and internationalization, designers must make a decision based on diverse user requirements. Designers have generally incorporated average human physical characteristics in their designs. Thus, user limitations are critically important. Traditional design methods often regard engineering and product design as iterative processes based on point values. However, when user information is represented as a point value, the resulting product satisfies only that specific user group and does not necessarily satisfy diverse user groups. This study proposes a universal design method that obtains diversely ranged design solutions for user requirements. The proposed method defines diverse user requirements, design variables, and user characteristics as sets, which range in value. To represent user information accurately, users are classified into numerous groups using classification techniques. Design variables are divided into two types: control and noise. Control factors are designer-controllable variables that are based on design specifications. Noise factors are designer-uncontrollable variables representing user characteristics. To derive a ranged design solution set, designers clarify the relationship between performance and design variables. Ranged solutions satisfying required performance are derived for each group using all relational expressions and ranged variable values. The combinations of divided design variables that cannot satisfy the required performance are eliminated from the design proposal, and the narrowed range of design variables become ranged solutions. The ranged solutions are derived for each group, and the common range of design variables is the ranged solution for all users. This paper chooses the design problem of the strap height of a train as a case study of the proposed universal design method. In this case study, we consider diverse user requirements based on the variability of physical characteristics. This paper discusses the suitability of our proposed approach for obtaining ranged solutions that reflect the physical characteristics of diverse users.


2013 ◽  
Vol 579-580 ◽  
pp. 894-900
Author(s):  
Teng Fei Li ◽  
Hui Xia Liu ◽  
Yi Xue Mao

Due to the change of car-body design, the location of exhaust systems hanger is uncertain and always fluctuates around the initial design position. So the Taguchi method is introduced to conduct exhaust systems optimal design. Firstly, the parameterization of hanger location under the grid environment was realized by combining NastranHypermesh and Isight. Then, the Taguchi robust design of the exhaust system is performed taking the hanger location as noise factors and the stiffness of hanger shock absorber as control factors. As a result, modal property and robustness of the exhaust system are improved. At last, the results of Taguchi robust design and traditional sensitivity optimization design based on the finite element method are compared, which reveals the advantage of Taguchi robust design in improving product quality.


Author(s):  
Anand Balu Nellippallil ◽  
Pranav Mohan ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree

In this paper, we present robust concept exploration using a goal-oriented, inverse decision-based design method to carry out the integrated design of material, product and associated manufacturing processes by managing the uncertainty involved. The uncertainty in complex material and product systems is derived from many sources and we classify robust design based on these sources — uncertainty in noise factors (Type I robust design); uncertainty in design variables or control factors (Type II robust design); uncertainty in function relationship between control/noise and response (Type III robust design); and propagation and potential amplification of uncertainty in a process chain (Type I to III robust designs across process chains). In this paper, we introduce a variation to the existing goal-oriented inverse decision-based design method to bring in robustness for multiple conflicting goals from the stand-point of Type I to III robust design across process chains. The variation embodies the introduction of specific robust design goals and constraints anchored in the mathematical constructs of error margin indices and design capability indices to determine “satisficing robust design” specifications for given performance requirement ranges using the goal-oriented, inverse design method. The design of a hot rolling process chain for the production of a rod is used as an example.


Author(s):  
Nozomu Mishima ◽  
Kousuke Ishii

Abstract This paper applies the method of robust design to machine tool design. The new design focuses on miniaturization that provides significant for energy and space saving. Our approach combines an analytical procedure representing the machining motions of a machine tool (form-shaping theory) with procedures for robust design. The effort identifies the design parameters of a machine tool that significantly influence the machining tolerance and leads to a general design guidelines for robust miniaturization. Further, this research applies the Taguchi method to the form-shaping function of a prototype miniature lathe. The analysis addresses five machine tool dimensions as control factors, while treating local errors in the machine structure as noise factors. The robustness study seeks to identify the importance of each factor in improving performance of the machine tool. The result shows that the thickness of the feed drive unit affects the performance most significantly. Among the local errors, straightness error of the same feed drive unit has a critical importance.


Author(s):  
Monu Kalsi ◽  
Kurt Hacker ◽  
Kemper Lewis

Abstract In this paper we introduce a technique to reduce the effects of uncertainty and incorporate flexibility in the design of complex engineering systems involving multiple decision-makers. We focus on the uncertainty that is created when a disciplinary designer or design team must try to predict or model the behavior of other disciplinary subsystems. The design of a complex system is performed by many different designers and design teams, each of which may only have control over a portion of the total set of system design variables. Modeling the interaction among these decision-makers and reducing the effect caused by lack of global control by any one designer is the focus of this paper. We use concepts from robust design to reduce the effects of decisions made during the design of one subsystem on the performance of the rest of the system. Thus, in a situation where the cost of uncertainty is high, these tools can be used to increase the robustness, or independence, of the subsystems, enabling designers to make more effective decisions. This approach includes uncertainty caused by control factor variation (Type II robust design) and uncertainty caused by unknown nonlocal design information (Type I robust design). To demonstrate the usefulness of this approach, we consider a case study involving the design of a passenger aircraft.


2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianmin Zhu ◽  
Kwun-Lon Ting

The paper presents the theory of performance sensitivity distribution and a novel robust parameter design technique. In the theory, a Jacobian matrix describes the effect of the component tolerance to the system performance, and the performance distribution is characterized in the variation space by a set of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Thus, the feasible performance space is depicted as an ellipsoid. The size, shape, and orientation of the ellipsoid describe the quantity as well as quality of the feasible space and, therefore, the performance sensitivity distribution against the tolerance variation. The robustness of a design is evaluated by comparing the fitness between the ellipsoid feasible space and the tolerance space, which is a block, through a set of quantitative and qualitative indexes. The robust design can then be determined. The design approach is demonstrated in a mechanism design problem. Because of the generality of the analysis theory, the method can be used in any design situation as long as the relationship between the performance and design variables can be expressed analytically.


Author(s):  
Zunling Du ◽  
Yimin Zhang

Axial piston pumps (APPs) are the core energy conversion components in a hydraulic transmission system. Energy conversion efficiency is critically important for the performance and energy-saving of the pumps. In this paper, a time-varying reliability design method for the overall efficiency of APPs was established. The theoretical and practical instantaneous torque and flow rate of the whole APP were derived through comprehensive analysis of a single piston-slipper group. Moreover, as a case study, the developed model for the instantaneous overall efficiency was verified with a PPV103-10 pump from HYDAC. The time-variation of reliability for the pump was revealed by a fourth-order moment technique considering the randomness of working conditions and structure parameters, and the proposed reliability method was validated by Monte Carlo simulation. The effects of the mean values and variance sensitivity of random variables on the overall efficiency reliability were analyzed. Furthermore, the optimized time point and design variables were selected. The optimal structure parameters were obtained to meet the reliability requirement and the sensitivity of design variables was significantly reduced through the reliability-based robust design. The proposed method provides a theoretical basis for designers to improve the overall efficiency of APPs in the design stage.


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