A Simulation-Based RBDO Method Using Probabilistic Re-Analysis and a Trust Region Approach

Author(s):  
Ramon C. Kuczera ◽  
Zissimos P. Mourelatos ◽  
Efstratios Nikolaidis ◽  
Jing Li

A simulation-based, system reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) method is presented which can handle problems with multiple failure regions. The method uses a Probabilistic Re-Analysis (PRRA) approach in conjunction with a trust-region optimization approach. PRRA calculates very efficiently the system reliability of a design by performing a single Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Although PRRA is based on MC simulation, it calculates “smooth” sensitivity derivatives, allowing therefore, the use of a gradient-based optimizer. The PRRA method is based on importance sampling. It provides accurate results, if the support (set of all values for which a function is non zero) of the sampling PDF contains the support of the joint PDF of the input random variables and, if the mass of the input joint PDF is not concentrated in a region where the sampling PDF is almost zero. A sequential, trust-region optimization approach satisfies these two requirements. The potential of the proposed method is demonstrated using the design of a vibration absorber, and the system RBDO of an internal combustion engine.

Author(s):  
Ramon C. Kuczera ◽  
Zissimos P. Mourelatos ◽  
Efstratios Nikolaidis

A simulation-based, system reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) method is presented that can handle problems with multiple failure regions and correlated random variables. Copulas are used to represent dependence between random variables. The method uses a Probabilistic Re-Analysis (PRRA) approach in conjunction with a sequential trust-region optimization approach and local metamodels covering each trust region. PRRA calculates very efficiently the system reliability of a design by performing a single Monte Carlo (MC) simulation per trust region. Although PRRA is based on MC simulation, it calculates “smooth” sensitivity derivatives, allowing the use of a gradient-based optimizer. The PRRA method is based on importance sampling. One requirement for providing accurate results is that the support of the sampling PDF must contain the support of the joint PDF of the input random variables. The trust-region optimization approach satisfies this requirement. Local metamodels are constructed sequentially for each trust region taking advantage of the potential overlap of the trust regions. The metamodels are used to determine the value of the indicator function in MC simulation. An example with correlated input random variables demonstrates the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed RBDO method.


Author(s):  
Tong Zou ◽  
Sankaran Mahadevan ◽  
Akhil Sopory

A novel reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) method using simulation-based techniques for reliability assessments and efficient optimization approach is presented in this paper. In RBDO, model-based reliability analysis needs to be performed to calculate the probability of not satisfying a reliability constraint and the gradient of this probability with respect to each design variable. Among model-based methods, the most widely used in RBDO is the first-order reliability method (FORM). However, FORM could be inaccurate for nonlinear problems and is not applicable for system reliability problems. This paper develops an efficient optimization methodology to perform RBDO using simulation-based techniques. By combining analytical and simulation-based reliability methods, accurate probability of failure and sensitivity information is obtained. The use of simulation also enables both component and system-level reliabilities to be included in RBDO formulation. Instead of using a traditional RBDO formulation in which optimization and reliability computations are nested, a sequential approach is developed to greatly reduce the computational cost. The efficiency of the proposed RBDO approach is enhanced by using a multi-modal adaptive importance sampling technique for simulation-based reliability assessment; and by treating the inactive reliability constraints properly in optimization. A vehicle side impact problem is used to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed method.


Author(s):  
Matthias Grot ◽  
Tristan Becker ◽  
Pia Mareike Steenweg ◽  
Brigitte Werners

AbstractIn order to allocate limited resources in emergency medical services (EMS) networks, mathematical models are used to select sites and their capacities. Many existing standard models are based on simplifying assumptions, including site independency and a similar system-wide busyness of ambulances. In practice, when a site is busy, a call is forwarded to another site. Thus, the busyness of each site depends not only on the rate of calls in the surrounding area, but also on interactions with other facilities. If the demand varies across the urban area, assuming an average system-wide server busy fraction may lead to an overestimation of the actual coverage. We show that site interdependencies can be integrated into the well-known Maximum Expected Covering Location Problem (MEXCLP) by introducing an upper bound for the busyness of each site. We apply our new mathematical formulation to the case of a local EMS provider. To evaluate the solution quality, we use a discrete event simulation based on anonymized real-world call data. Results of our simulation-optimization approach indicate that the coverage can be improved in most cases by taking site interdependencies into account, leading to an improved ambulance allocation and a faster emergency care.


Author(s):  
Wenqing Zheng ◽  
Hezhen Yang

Reliability based design optimization (RBDO) of a steel catenary riser (SCR) using metamodel is investigated. The purpose of the optimization is to find the minimum-cost design subjecting to probabilistic constraints. To reduce the computational cost of the traditional double-loop RBDO, a single-loop RBDO approach is employed. The performance function is approximated by using metamodel to avoid time consuming finite element analysis during the dynamic optimization. The metamodel is constructed though design of experiments (DOE) sampling. In addition, the reliability assessment is carried out by Monte Carlo simulations. The result shows that the RBDO of SCR is a more rational optimization approach compared with traditional deterministic optimization, and using metamodel technique during the dynamic optimization process can significantly decrease the computational expense without sacrificing accuracy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (04) ◽  
pp. 288-292
Author(s):  
M. Kück ◽  
J. Ehm ◽  
T. Hildebrandt ◽  
M. Prof. Freitag ◽  
E. M. Prof. Frazzon

Der Trend zur Fertigung individualisierter Produkte in kleinen Losgrößen erfordert hochflexible Produktionssysteme. Durch die damit verbundene Systemdynamik wird die Reihenfolgeplanung zu einem komplexen Planungsproblem. Der Beitrag beschreibt ein simulationsbasiertes Optimierungsverfahren, welches Echtzeitinformationen zur adaptiven Selektion geeigneter Prioritätsregeln verwendet. Das Potenzial des Ansatzes wird anhand eines Anwendungsfalls aus der Halbleiterindustrie demonstriert.   The trend to manufacturing individualized products in small-scale series demands highly flexible production systems. Because of the dynamic nature of such production systems, scheduling becomes a complex planning problem with frequent need for rescheduling. This article describes a data-driven simulation-based optimization approach using real-time information for adaptive job shop scheduling. The potential of the approach is demonstrated by a use case from semiconductor industry.


2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (04) ◽  
pp. 221-227
Author(s):  
T. Donhauser ◽  
L. Baier ◽  
T. Ebersbach ◽  
J. Franke ◽  
P. Schuderer

Die Kalksandsteinherstellung weist aufgrund prozesstechnisch und zeitlich divergierender Teilprozesse einen hohen Planungs- sowie Steuerungsaufwand auf. Durch Einsatz eines simulationsgestützten Optimierungsverfahrens kann diese Komplexität bewältigt werden. Um bei hoher Lösungsqualität eine Laufzeit zu erreichen, die einen operativen Einsatz des Verfahrens gestattet, wird auf Basis einer vorangegangenen Studie ein Dekompositionsansatz implementiert und dessen Eignung durch Testläufe validiert.   Calcium silicate masonry production requires a great deal of planning and control due to the fact that subprocesses vary in terms of process technology and time. To overcome this complexity, a simulation-based optimization approach is applied. As a short runtime that allows the method to be used operationally and yet still offers a high quality of solution is crucial, a decomposition approach is implemented on the basis of a previous study and its suitability is validated by means of test runs.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Vu Linh Nguyen ◽  
Chin-Hsing Kuo ◽  
Po Ting Lin

Abstract This article proposes a method for analyzing the gravity balancing reliability of spring-articulated serial robots with uncertainties. Gravity balancing reliability is defined as the probability that the torque reduction ratio (the ratio of the balanced torque to the unbalanced torque) is less than a specified threshold. The reliability analysis is performed by exploiting a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) with consideration of the uncertainties in the link dimensions, masses, and compliance parameters. The gravity balancing begins with a simulation-based analysis of the gravitational torques of a typical serial robot. Based on the simulation results, a gravity balancing design for the robot using mechanical springs is realized. A reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) method is also developed to seek a reliable and robust design for maximized balancing performance under a prescribed uncertainty level. The RBDO is formulated with consideration of a probabilistic reliability constraint and solved by using a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the gravity balancing performance and reliability of a robot with uncertainties. A sensitivity analysis of the balancing design is also performed. Lastly, the effectiveness of the RBDO method is demonstrated through a case study in which the balancing performance and reliability of a robot with uncertainties are improved with the proposed method.


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