Comparative properties of collaborative optimization and other approaches to MDO

Abstract

We discuss criteria by which one can classify, analyze, and evaluate approaches to solving multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) problems. Central to our discussion is the often overlooked distinction between questions of formulating MDO problems and solving the resulting computational problem. We illustrate our general remarks by comparing several approaches to MDO that have been proposed. INTRODUCTION There are likely as many definitions of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) as there are areas and phases of design. For our discussion, we shall take MDO to mean the systematic approach to optimization of complex, coupled engineering systems, where "multidisciplinary " refers to the different aspects that must be included in a design problem. For instance, the design of aircraft involves, among other disciplines, aerodynamics, structural analysis, propulsion, and control. See Sobieszczanski-Sobieski and Haftka (1997), Alexandrov and Hussaini (1997) for overviews of the ...