Introduction to Optimum Design

Optimization is a mathematical tool developed in the early 1960's used to find the most efficient and feasible solutions to an engineering problem. It can be used to find ideal shapes and physical configurations, ideal structural designs, maximum energy efficiency, and many other desired goals of engineering.This book is intended for use in a first course on engineering design and optimization. Material for the text has evolved over a period of several years and is based on classroom presentations for an undergraduate core course on the principles of design. Virtually any problem for which certain parameters need to be determined to satisfy constraints can be formulated as a design optimization problem. The concepts and methods described in the text are quite general and applicable to all such formulations. Inasmuch, the range of application of the optimum design methodology is almost limitless, constrained only by the imagination and ingenuity of the user. The book describes the basic concepts and techniques with only a few simple applications. Once they are clearly understood, they can be applied to many other advanced applications that are discussed in the text.
- Allows engineers involved in the design process to adapt optimum design concepts in their work using the material in the text
- Basic concepts of optimality conditions and numerical methods are described with simple examples, making the material high teachable and learnable
- Classroom-tested for many years to attain optimum pedagogical effectiveness

Dr. Arora is the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Iowa. He was also Director of the Optimal Design Laboratory and Associate Director of the Center for Computer Aided Design. He is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of optimization, numerical analysis, and real-time implementation. His research interests include optimization-based digital human modeling, dynamic response optimization, optimal control of systems, design sensitivity analysis and optimization of nonlinear systems, and parallel optimization algorithms. Dr. Arora has authored two books, co-authored or edited five others, written 160 journal articles, 27 book chapters, 130 conference papers, and more than 300 technical reports.

1. Introduction to Design2. Optimum Design Problem Formulation3. Graphical Optimization4. Optimum Design Concepts5. More on Optimum Design Concepts6. Linear Programming Methods for Optimum Design7. More on Linear Programming Methods for Optimum Design8. Numerical Methods for Unconstrained Optimum Design9. More on Numerical Methods for Unconstrained Optimum Design10. Numerical Methods for Constrained Optimum Design11. More on Numerical Methods for Constrained Optimum Design12. Introduction to Optimum Design with MATLAB13. Interactive Design Optimization14. Design Optimization Applications with Implicit Functions15. Discrete Variable Optimum Design Concepts and Methods16. Genetic Algorithms for Optimum Design17. Multi-Objective Optimum Design Concepts and Methods18. Global Optimization Concepts and Methods for Optimum Design