Course Description

To present an overview of computational methods for single- and multi-objective design optimization problems, mainly with continuous design variable. The course will include a project and the use of Matlab optimization toolbox and Ansys in homeworks and also in the project.             

Reference Books

Introduction to Optimum Design, Jasbir S. Arora, 4th edition, Elsevier, 2016.

An Engineer’s Guide to MATLAB, Magrab et al, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 2011.   

Instructor

Ahmed Mohamed Nagib Elmekawy

Office:  Mechanical Engineering Building

E-mail:  a.nagib@alexu.edu.eg

Outline: 

Concepts, definitions and examples

Optimality conditions

Linear programming

Single objective optimization: unconstrained methods

Single objective optimization: constrained methods

Multi-objective optimization methods

Genetic algorithms

Optimization with Matlab and Excel

Grading:  

Ansys Tutorials (5%) - Bonus

Semester long project (15%)

Midterm (25%)

Final Exam (60%).

Project:

Course-work will consist of a project. I will divide the class into groups. Your group will choose a problem from an engineering area with which you have sufficient familiarity. You will formulate that problem as an optimal design problem. You will solve this problem by a technique from MATLAB Optimization Toolbox, and verify and compare your solutions by an optimization method that will be developed by you in the MATLAB environment. More details for the project, in particular, examples of adequate/previous projects will be provided. Midterm presentations (with details of problem definition and formulation) and final project presentations and written report (with details of solution, etc) will be required.

Instructor: 

Ahmed Mohamed Nagib Elmekawy, a.nagib@alexu.edu.eg

Teaching Assistants: 

Mahmoud Samak

Office Hours: 

Saturday: 1:00 - 2:00 PM, other times by appointment