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5
Design Optimization
5.1 Modeling an Engineering System
One of the biggest contributions of computers to the eld of engineering is
the ability to simulate engineering systems on them. This has allowed us to
solve simulated versions of problems involving the systems that were tra-
ditionally considered intractable. On a computer, a problem can be solved
many times over, with different design parameters and under different
simulated operating conditions. Doing so allows us to understand the sys-
tem’s behavior without resorting to expensive tests. Also, if needed, one can
nd the design parameters that maximize an objective (or performance) ...