Optimization for Engineering Design; Introduction Summarry

Engineers see optimization as an esoteric technique use only in mathematics and research related activities.  An optimization algorithm is a procedure which is executed iteratively by comparing various solutions till the optimum or satisfactory result is found.  There are deterministic and stochastic optimization algorithms. 

Optimization algorithms are used in engineering design activities that emphasize maximizing or minimizing a certain goal.  Only the designer can formulate the optimization problem for the design they are designing. 

The purpose of the formulation procedure is to create a mathematical model of the optimal design problem, which can then be solved using an optimization algorithm.  This formulation begins with identifying design variables.  The speed and efficiency of the optimization algorithm depends on how many design variables are chosen.  The first rule of optimization is to choose as few design variables as possible. Constraints are then chosen.  These identify functional relationships between the design variables.  Constraints can be of an equality type or an inequality type.  Equality constraints should be avoided whenever possible because they are difficult to handle.  The objective function, which defines what should be minimized or maximized, is the next task in the optimization formulation procedure.  The final task is to set the variable bounds, minimum and maximum for each design variable.

After formulation the optimization problem can be written out in nonlinear programming format.