Optimal
Design in Multidisciplinary Systems
Mechanical, Aerospace and
Nuclear Engineering
Description
This course is intended as a broad overview of the subject of
optimal design in multidisciplinary systems. The focus will be
on presenting major issues related to designing complex systems,
the analysis of which requires input from many disciplinary specialists.
Existing methods of addressing these issues will also be presented.
In particular, discussions will focus on formulating the design
problem, on commonly used search techniques and a review of methods
for sensitivity analysis. The importance of decomposition principles
to multidisciplinary design will be discussed in the context of
enhancing search efficiency, improved understanding of the design
space, and in exploiting parallel architecture computers. These
principles are naturally amenable to the typical industry design
environment. Issues pertaining to computational efficiency of
the process are particularly relevant in multidisciplinary design,
and both traditional and newly developed tools to address these
problems will be discussed. The course will also provide an introduction
to emergent computing techniques such as genetic algorithms and
neural networks, and their significance in multidisciplinary design.
A brief introduction to reliability-based design optimization
will also be presented.
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisites are required.
Textbook(s)
Ordering Information
Format
Classes: 28 weeks, 14 sessions
Homework: 5-6
Project: 1
Exams: 2
Grading
Homework 25%
Term Project 25%
Exams 50%
Computing
Email and World Wide Web access required for course communications,
use of WebCT, and printing of course notes. MatLab software is
highly desirable.
Access to WebCT, Rensselaer's course management
tool, is required. Please refer to this
page for instructions on how to set up your computer for WebCT.
Who Should Enroll
This course may be used in your Plan of Study as follows:
Degree Programs
CSCI - elective
CSYS - elective
ELEC - elective with advisor pre-approval
EPOW - elective with advisor pre-approval
ESCI-MM - elective with advisor pre-approval
ESCI-MOT - elective with advisor pre-approval
ESCI-MSE - may be used as a Manufacturing Design
elective or general elective with advisor pre-approval
ITEC - n/a
MANE - may be used toward Mechanical Engineering
core or elective
MBA - elective with advisor pre-approval
MGMT-MS - elective with advisor pre-approval
QUAL - elective with advisor pre-approval
SERV - elective with advisor pre-approval
TCOM - n/a
This course is also open to non-matriculated
students who meet the prerequisites and may be used toward the
Certificate in Mechanical Engineering.
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