MGA - A mathematical approach to generate design alternatives

Abstract

Optimization methods are typically proposed to find a single solution that is optimal with respect to the modeled objectives and costs. In practice, however, this solution is not the best suited for design as mathematical models seldom include all the costs and objectives. This paper presents a technique - Modeling to Generate Alternatives (MGA), that instead uses optimization to generate good design alternatives, which the designer may explore with respect to the unmodeled factors. The generated alternatives are close to the optimal solution in objective space but are distant from it in decision space. An application of this technique to design of moment-resisting steel frames is illustrated. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.