The Optimal Design of Mechanisms Employing a Synthesis Based Merit Function

Abstract

Abstract A method of implementing three-precision point synthesis into the merit function of kinematic optimization problems was developed. The addition of synthesis reduced the order of the merit function from eight to four. The new merit function was tested on three optimization methods and compared to the standard non-synthesis optimization merit function. It was discovered that the performance of the new synthesis merit function depended heavily upon which of the three precision points were selected for use in the synthesis calculations. Subsequently, a method of pre-optimization selection of synthesis points was developed. It was found that when a favorable selection method was employed, the synthesis based merit function performed well, optimizing to a comparable merit function value in about 50 percent fewer function evaluations.