Parallel Design Tools for Optimization of Smart Structures

This SBIR Phase II project is to continuously and fully develop the title parallel computational design tools initiated in Phase I into superpowerful, commercializable prototype design tools (computer codes) in the following manner: (i) adopting/extending our own superefficient Integral Global/Local Optimization (IGLO) algorithms, (ii) extending/developing some efficient constraint treatment schemes, (iii) using smart structural (active element placement) technology to significantly improve the global minimum solution result, (iv) adopting/developing some efficient parallel computational optimization and finite element structural analysis methods, (v) adopting and parallelizing a multi-objective optimization method, and (vi) combining the above algorithms/schemes/methods into superpowerful parallel computerized smart structural design analysis and optimization technology. These tools consist of the IGLOAP (IGLO Algorithm Package), PASA (Parallel Adaptive Structural Analyzer), and PASOS (Parallel Adaptive Structural Optimization System) codes. Development of these tools are particular important in significantly improving the design efficiency/cycle time and quality (global minimum solution value) of structures and hardware systems, including weapon-carrying, aerospace-borne precision structures for ballistic missile defense use, for which minimum structural weight and/or minimum pointing error design(s) is (are) of primary importance. In particular, it enables solution of unprecedentedly large-size structural design problems with mixed-discrete/continuous design variables without incurring excessive computational time/cost.