Reliability-based optimization of design variance to identify critical tolerances

  • Authors:
  • Todd W. Benanzer;Ramana V. Grandhi;William P. Krol

  • Affiliations:
  • 209 Russ Engineering Center, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435-0001, United States;209 Russ Engineering Center, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435-0001, United States;Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI 02841-1708, United States

  • Venue:
  • Advances in Engineering Software
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

Reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) is a topic of interest for research in both academia and industry. RBDO typically involves adjusting the mean values of the design variables while fixing the spread parameters, often measured as variance, in order to accomplish a given objective within the stated constraints. This paper proposes an alternate way to meet given design criteria by fixing the mean values of the statistical inputs and allowing the spread parameters to become design variables. To do this, product cost models are proposed in terms of statistical variables. By performing this type of optimization, the design changes are kept to a minimum, and the focus is instead shifted to variance control. An initial study is performed on a three-bar truss subject to static loading with material variability. A more complex example is performed involving the cost minimization of an unmanned undersea vehicle subjected to hydrostatic buckling.