Effective structural sizing/shape optimisation through a reliability‐related multifactor optimisation approach

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to present a novel multifactor structural optimisation method incorporating reliability performance.Design/methodology/approachThis research addresses structural optimisation problems in which the design is required to satisfy multiple performance criteria, such as strength, stiffness, mass and reliability under multiple loading cases simultaneously. A MOST technique is extended to accommodate the reliability‐related optimisation. Structural responses and geometrical sensitivities are analysed by a FE method, and reliability performance is calculated by a reliability loading‐case index (RLI). The evaluation indices of performances and loading cases are formulated, and an overall performance index is presented to quantitatively evaluate a design.FindingsThe proposed method is applicable to multi‐objective, multi‐loading‐case, multi‐disciplinary and reliability‐related optimisation problems. The applications to a star‐like truss structure and a raised‐access floor panel structure confirmed that the method is highly effective and efficient in terms of structural optimisation.Originality/valueA systematic method is proposed. The optimisation method combines the MOST technique with a RLI (a new alternative route to calculate the reliability index at multiple loading cases) using a parametric FE model.