Multiobjective Optimization
Multiobjective Optimization
to Multiobjective Optimization
S. S. Rao Many mechanical and structural design problems encountered in practice require
solutions which balance several conflicting objectives. The vector, scalarization, and
trade-off-curve methods have been developed to achieve multiobjective solutions.
T. I. Freiheit One of the best known methods for generating a compromise solution, based on
the concept of Pareto minimum solution, is the cooperative game theory method
School of Mechanical Engineering, since it uses a scalarized approach and has a numerical measure of compromise.
Purdue University, However, game theory is hard to automate due to a two step optimization process
West Lafayette, IN 47907 involved. Hence, in this work, a modification to the game theory is introduced in
which the two optimization steps are combined and an algorithm for its implemen-
tation is developed. The algorithm is tested on two numerical examples, including
one dealing with the probabilistic design of an eighteen speed machine tool gear
train. The probabilistic theory necessary for the design of the gear train is also
introduced. The examples validate the modified game theory.
Introduction
In today's competitive economy, it is no longer possible for inferior solution in which the user indicates which objective is
the designer to find solutions to conflicting objective problems to be favored over another (Mukai [3]) and multicriteria dy-
which are merely adequate. The designer must select the design namic programming (Rosenman and Gero [4]).
variables such that there is a superior compromise between the A method related to the vector methods is the e-constraint
objectives. To this end, a large number of methods have been method. This method optimizes one of the objectives subject
developed for the solution of multiobjective optimization to the other objectives being constrained to the neighborhood
problems. The earliest reported in-depth work on the for- of their respective goals. It is mathematically formulated as:
mulation of the multiobjective problem is that of Kuhn and Find the design vector X e S such that it:
Tucker [1]. The methods for optimizing multiple objectives
minimizes f(X) (2)
may be categorized into two types, leaving the objectives in
vector form and scalarizing the objectives into one equation. subject to
In the vector form, the multiobjective (or multicriteria) design //X)<e,;y=l,2,...,
problem may be mathematically defined as: Find the design
vector X = (xl,x2,...,xk) that will where n is the number of objectives, j^i, and e may be varied
T
to generate the entire Pareto optimal set. This method has a
minimize f(X) = (/,(X), / 2 (X), , /(X)) (1) major drawback in that the value of e in defining the constraints
subject to: is not known.
The technique for the optimization of single objective prob-
X e S = {Xl^(X)<0,y=l,2,...,m) lems are well established and have been proven effective and
where S is the feasible design space. The best known method efficient. It is desirable, therefore, to scalarize the multiob-
of optimizing several objectives while leaving them independ- jective problem into a single objective such that a noninferior
ent of one another is the mini-max method (Osyczka [2]). This compromise solution may be found by any standard single
entails minimizing the maximum deviation from the objective objective optimization program. The most common scalari-
goals (desired values) with the constraint that the solution must zation method is the goal programming method. Goal pro-
be Pareto optimal. A Pareto optimal (noninferior) solution is gramming is the minimization of the aggregate deviation of
a solution to a multicriteria problem in which any decrease in the objectives from predetermined goals. Mathematically it
one objective results in a simultaneous increase in one or more can be stated as follows:
of the other objectives. Mathematically, a solution X* e S is
Pareto optimal if and only i f X e S and f(X)<f{X*) for
/' =1,2,..., k imply that fi(X)=f(X*) for i=\,2,...,k. Two other minimize /(X) = ) E ( d + ; + <*-/("'. ^ 1 (3)
vector methods are an algorithm which will generate a non- S/=i
subject to
Contributed by the Design Automation Committee for publication in the
XeS
JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received April 1990. f(xy-d; + dj = bj
Nomenclature
A = center distance
d, = pitch circle diameter of / th
gear / = speed ratio ^(^iv) = bending (surface wear)
E = Young's modulus M, = torque on, gear stress
fj = / h objective function nw = speed of wheel T = number of teeth on wheel
/, = / h normalized objective P = power transmitted by gear U = face width of ith gear
function Rs = reliability of system X = vector of design variables
fx(x) probability density func- R
cij = reliability of ith component Xf = optimum solution of f,{X)
tion of X in / h load condition Xi = ith design variable
Fiu = worst value of /th objective = feasible design space; su- z = standard normal variate
function
s percriterion = mean (standard deviation)
< ).*()
gj = / h inequality constraint Sw) = bending (surface wear) of()
function strength a = pressure angle
/m(X)
fm-ffx-T) (8)
Fiu-fi&t)
R,
II IK (14)
where Fiu is the worst value, and/(X*) is the optimum value / = i y'=i
of the ;' h objective. where Rc,, is the reliability of the; component in they' loading
"H1 + f)
The commonly used probability density function, namely,
the normal distribution, can be expressed for the variable L y (24)
izl (17)
<7 7 = (27)
2 2 1/2
IE
where ,=S-L and = S - L and oj = (os + aL) . This The mean and standard deviations of sb and sw can be computed
formulation assumes that the two variables are independent as outlined in Rao and Das [11]. The equations for sb and
of each other. Using the standard normal variate, the integral as (sw and os ) can be used to find the reliability of one gear
for reliability now becomes:
pair in bending (surface wear). The overall reliability of the
R ex 2 dz (18) gear train for failure due to bending stresses and failure due
'= i 1 p(-^ ) to wear stresses can be calculated using the weakest link chain
where the lower limit of integration Z\ is the standard normal model. Depending on the output speed of the gear box, each
variate with the random variable set to zero. The evaluation gear pair will rotate at one of several speeds or will be dis-
of this integral is readily found from standard normal tables engaged. For a worst case reliability analysis of any gear pair,
or approximation equations. The random variable is set to the lowest reliability calculated from the several speeds will be
zero because it is desired to find the probability that the strength selected as the reliability of that particular gear pair. Mathe-
is greater than the load, i.e., = S - L > 0 . matically, the reliability in bending of the gear train will be:
In the case of gear design, it is desired to find the reliability
R =
of the gear teeth under the influence of bending and contact
stresses. Therefore, the standard normal variate formulation % n ^v (28)
k ,
*=2X
Wtit) (20) yi (pc-iy+i (29)
2
y3= (x-3)
where p is the density, d, is the pitch circle diameter of the /
gear, t, is the face width of the /' gear and k is the number of yx, y2, and y}, have minima of 0, 1, and 0, respectively. The
gears in the gear train. worst values for yu y2, and y3 are 9/2, 5, and 9 and occur for
The mean and standard deviation of the stresses in bending the functions when x is at 3, 3, and 0, respectively. The func-
and wear on the gear teeth for any loading condition can be tions are normalized as:
calculated as follows (Rao and Das [11]). A gear pair trans- 2
mitting powr p(kW) at speed nw (rpm) will experience a torque t - i
M, (kgf-cm) given by:
Jn\ - g*
M, = 97500 (21) (30)