Multi-objective optimization of an engine mount design by means of memetic genetic programming and a local exploration approach

Abstract

This work addresses the optimization of an engine mount design from a multi-objective scenario. Our methodology is divided into three phases: phase one focuses on data collection through computer simulations. The objectives considered during the analyses are: total mass, first natural frequency and maximum von Mises stress. In phase two, a surrogate model by means of genetic programming is generated for each one of the objectives. Moreover, a local search procedure is incorporated into the overall genetic programming algorithm for improving its performance. Finally, in phase three, instead of steering the search to finding the approximate Pareto front, a local exploration approach based on a change in the weight space is used to lead a search into user defined directions turning the decision making more intuitive.