Multi-modular design optimization and multidisciplinary design optimization

Abstract

Purpose

For complex engineering problems, multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) techniques use some disciplines that need to be run several times in different modules. In addition, mathematical modeling of a discipline can be improved for each module. The purpose of this paper is to show that multi-modular design optimization (MMO) improves the design performances in comparison with MDO technique for complex systems.

Design/methodology/approach

MDO framework and MMO framework are developed to optimum design of a complex system. The nonlinear equality and inequality constrains are considered. The system optimizers included Genetic Algorithm and Sequential Quadratic Programming.

Findings

As shown, fewer design variables (optimization variables) are needed at the system level for MMO. Unshared variables are optimized in the related module when shared variables are optimized at the system level. The results of this research show that MMO has lower elapsed times (14 percent) with lower F-count (16 percent).

Practical implications

The monopropellant propulsion upper-stage is selected as a case study. In this paper, the efficient model of the monopropellant propulsion system is proposed. According to the results, the proposed model has acceptable accuracy in mass model (error < 2 percent), performance estimation (error < 6 percent) and geometry estimation (error < 10 percent).

Originality/value

The monopropellant propulsion system is broken down into the three important modules including propellant tank (tank and propellant), pressurized feeding (tank and gas) and thruster (catalyst, nozzle and catalysts bed) when chemical decomposition, aerothermodynamics, mass and configuration, catalyst and structure have been considered as the disciplines. The both MMO and MDO frameworks are developed for the monopropellant propulsion system.

Citation

Adami, A., Mortazavi, M. and Nosratollahi, M. (2015), "Multi-modular design optimization and multidisciplinary design optimization", International Journal of Intelligent Unmanned Systems, Vol. 3 No. 2/3, pp. 156-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIUS-01-2015-0001