MME8205: Optimization Driven Design

The course introduces mathematical programming methods for engineering design optimization for engineering applications and appropriate design problems from other engineering disciplines. 
 
Course Objectives 

• Examine the description of an engineering design problem to assess whether the solution may be facilitated by an optimization method.  
• Translate the description of the problem at hand into a formal, mathematical optimization statement suitable for application of one of the established optimization methods.  
• Select a specific optimization technique appropriate to the problem and determine whether to use “off-the-shelf” software or develop a new code.  
• Execute the optimization, recover from execution difficulties, evaluate whether the results appear reasonable, reformulate and re-execute the problem, if necessary. Interpret the results in terms of the original description of the problem. 

 
Learning Outcomes 
After completing the course, the student shall: 
 
Knowledge and understanding 

• Have knowledge about how structural and design optimization can be used during the design process. 
• Able to show knowledge about how fundamental basic optimization algorithms are used. 
• Have understanding about how optimization driven design is used in the development of sustainable products. 

 
Skills and abilities 

• Show ability to use response surfaces optimization in structural analyses. 
• Show the ability to perform sensitivity analyses. 

 
Judgement and approach 

• Show ability to perform a major optimization driven design project.