Differential geometry and design coupling in MDO

The notion of coupling within a design, particularly within the context of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO), is much used but ill-defined. There are many different ways of measuring design coupling, but these measures vary in both their conceptions of what design coupling is and how such coupling may be calculated. Within the differential geometry framework which we have previously developed for MDO systems, we put forth our own design coupling metric for consideration. Our metric is not commensurate with similar types of coupling metrics, but we show that it both provides a helpful geo- metric interpretation of coupling (and uncoupledness in particular) and exhibits greater generality and potential for analysis than those similar metrics. Furthermore, we discuss how the metric might be profitably extended to time-varying problems and show how the metric's measure of coupling can be applied to multi-objective optimization problems (in unconstrained optimization and in MDO). © 2013 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

On the application of differential geometry to MDO

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) is a methodology for optimizing large coupled systems. Over the years, a number of different MDO decomposition strategies, known as architectures, have been developed, and various pieces of analytical work have been done on MDO and its architectures. However, MDO lacks an overarching paradigm which would unify the field and promote cumulative research. In this paper, we propose a differential geometry framework as such a paradigm: Differential geometry comes with its own set of analysis tools and a long history of use in theoretical physics. We begin by outlining some of the mathematics behind differential geometry and then translate MDO into that framework. This initial work gives new tools and techniques for studying MDO and its architectures while producing a naturally arising measure of design coupling. The framework also suggests several new areas for exploration into and analysis of MDO systems. At this point, analogies with particle dynamics and systems of differential equations look particularly promising for both the wealth of extant background theory that they have and the potential predictive and evaluative power that they hold. © 2012 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of room geometry on the overturning of smoke owing to a floor fire

The present paper explores the influence of room geometry on the overturning of smoke owing to a centrally located floor fire, and examines the implications on smoke filling times. The focus is on presenting practical design guidelines based on the theoretical predictions of the model of Kaye and Hunt. An engineering platform is developed for the prediction of smoke filling times, and a rational basis is provided by way of which smoke behaviour can be specified for simple room designs. The time taken for smoke to fill a room to a given height is critically affected by the room aspect ratio and the characteristic size of the buoyancy source. At large times, taller (small aspect ratio) rooms are shown to fill with smoke at a faster rate than wide (large aspect ratio) rooms owing to large-scale overturning and engulfing of ambient air during the initial transients. Larger area sources of buoyancy also decrease significantly the smoke filling times, with important implications for fire and smoke safety design. Simplified design curves incorporating the main findings have been developed for use as a tool by practising fire-safety engineers.

Influence of tire geometry on the horn effect

A reciprocal-configuration Boundary Element Method calculation of acoustic radiation characteristics has been implemented for a generic tire geometry. The influence of the geometric parameters on the radiation characteristics has been studied. The degree of amplification of noise sources on the tire belt is strongly affected by the overall tire width. In contrast, the tire radius predominantly influences the pattern of the varying amplification around the belt, rather than its absolute level. Radiusing the tire's 'shoulder' region is potentially beneficial in terms of lowering amplification levels, for a tire of fixed overall width. However, it is less effective than maintaining sharp shoulders and reducing the overall width. Thus, for an acoustically optimal belted tire, the overall width should be as small as possible, even if this leads to a larger diameter. The width should not be increased in order to accommodate a radiused crown region. Copyright © (2012) by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE).

Vibration decay along deepwater moorings with complex geometry and configuration, as a tool for truncation

This paper is concerned with the difficulties in model testing deepwater structures at reasonable scales. An overview of recent research efforts to tackle this challenge is given first, introducing the concept of line truncation. Passive truncation has traditionally been the preferred method by industry; however, these techniques tend to suffer in capturing accurately line dynamic response and so reproducing peak tensions. In an attempt to improve credibility of model test data the proposed truncation procedure sets up the truncated model, based on line dynamic response rather than quasi-static system stiffness. Vibration decay of transverse elastic waves due to fluid drag forces is assessed and it is found that below a certain length criterion, the transverse vibrational characteristics for each line are inertia driven, hence with respect to these motions the truncated model can assume a linear damper whose coefficient depends on the local line properties and vibration frequency. Initially a simplified taut string model is assumed for which the line is submerged in still water, one end fixed at the bottom the other assumed to follow the vessel response, which can be harmonic or random. A dimensional analysis, supported by exact benchmark numerical solutions, has shown that it is possible to produce a general guideline for the truncation length criterion, which is suitable for any kind of line with any top motion. The focus of this paper is to extend this work to a more complex line configuration of a conventional deepwater mooring line and so enhance the generality of the truncation guideline. The paper will close with an example case study of a spread mooring system, applying this method to create an equivalent numerical model at a reduced depth that replicates exactly the static and dynamic characteristics of the full depth system. Copyright © 2012 by ASME.