Experiences with optimizers in design

This paper outlines the authors' experiences on applying optimization search methods to a number of engineering design tasks over the last 10-15 years. These projects have covered a range of domains and have been multi-discipline and multi-level in nature. The search methods deployed have ranged over the fully spectrum of methods available in the literature including gradient decent, genetic, stochastic and heuristic approaches. Problems have been tackled in drug design, ship design, civil transport wing design, sonar data processing, communications network operation and satellite structure design. Currently, as part of an initiative with British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce, a new research centre is being created to focus attention on current problems of interest in aerospace and gas-turbine design. The paper closes by listing some of the key topics which must be considered when setting up design search and optimization aids