View article

A framework is developed for structural optimization using an Element Free Galerkin (EFG) method for analyzing the structure, a kriging for surrogate model, and a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for finding the optimum design. The framework is tested for a plate with curvilinear stiffeners which are now possible with additive manufacturing such as 3-D printing. The efficiency and accuracy of the framework is compared with two other approaches: 1) MD.PATRAN, MD.NASTRAN and VisualDOC as implemented in EBF3PanelOpt, a Computational Design Environment being developed at Virginia Tech to optimally design panels with curvilinear stiffeners, and 2) a kriging, MD.PATRAN and MD.NASTRAN and genetic algorithms. All three approaches use optimization methods on both the shape and size design variables. The optimization scheme is a two-step optimization approach that divides the design variables into …