Design Theory and Methods using CAD/CAE

3.8. Practical Engineering Problems

We have introduced numerous optimization problems and their solution techniques. So far, all example problems we presented assume explicit expressions of objective and constraint functions in design variables. In practice, there are only a very limited number of engineering problems, such as a cantilever beam or two-bar truss systems, that are simple enough to allow for explicit mathematical expressions in relating functions with design variables. In general, explicit expressions of functions in design variables are not available. In these cases, software tools such as MATLAB are not applicable.

Solving design optimization problems that involve function evaluations of physical problems that do not have explicit ...