A Comparative Study of Multiobjective Optimization Methods in Structural Design

Authors: MEHMET SUNAR, RAMAZAN KAHRAMAN

Abstract: The computational algorithms of different multiobjective optimization techniques and their applications to structural systems are presented. The weighting, \epsilon -constraint, goal programming and modified game theory methods are described along with a comparative study of the results. The conflicting nature of the objective functions is studied through two multiobjective optimization problems. Specifically, the design of a 25-bar space truss and that of a satellite with flexible appendages are considered in numerical studies. The results from the multiobjective optimization methods are evaluated in terms of a supercriterion. It is concluded that the results obtained using the goal programming and modified game theory/goal programming approaches are properly balanced yielding the best compromise in the presence of conflicting objectives.

Keywords: Multiobjective optimization, objective function, structural design, supercriterion.

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