Extended Collaboration Pursuing Method for Solver Larger Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Problems

Abstract

The collaboration pursuing method is a sampling-based multidisciplinary design optimization method, which does not rely on sensitivity analysis. It was found that the collaboration pursuing method is constrained by the effectiveness of sampling in a design space when solving larger multidisciplinary design optimization problems. Three new modules, that is, discrete sampling, new initialization process, and active design variable control, are developed in this work to extend the collaboration pursuing method's capability in dealing with larger multidisciplinary design optimization problems. Using the collaboration pursuing method with the new modules, called extended collaboration pursuing method, a conceptual aircraft design problem involving structures, aerodynamics, and propulsion is successfully solved. The extended collaboration pursuing method is a promising new multidisciplinary design optimization method to solve larger multidisciplinary design optimization problems with better accuracy and comparable efficiency, when compared with other multidisciplinary design optimization methods.