Optimization software : View from Europe

A FTER a request for materials describing optimization software, more than 14 companies and universities answered to present their respective structural optimization packages. From these references, we present an analysis of the most popular software available. Each program will be described in a small paragraph presenting its most salient characteristics. After introducing the software and its developers, information is given about the main capabilities of the package, i.e. • Design variables • Structural characteristics taken into account as constraints and objectives during the Optimization process • Redesign modules adopted and the optimizer strategy • Graphical tools available • CAE-CAD computer-assisted engineering-computer-assisted design environment Particular attention will be paid to applications. A large number of software packages are illustrated by real-life examples providing a typical application case. Although most of the applications are related to aeronautic and astronautic domains, others sectors touched by optimization techniques provide interesting illustrations (e.g., the automotive industry, machine tool design, biomechanics, etc.). The examples are representative of the size and complexity of the problems the software is able to solve and also reveal typical characteristics listed above. To facilitate a comparison of similar programs, the review is split into three parts. The first part concerns optimization packages developed by European aerospace companies for their own use. The second part presents the most famous commercially supported optimization programs from Europe. Finally, typical development software packages created by either sponsored research centers or universities are analyzed in the last part. To yield a wide overview of the programs and to allow a quick comparison, a synoptic table of the main characteristics of the optimization software is also

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