Global response surface method (GRSM) delivered with HyperStudy® 12.0 represents the culmination of this effort. With that ultimate goal in mind, the method development team at Altair has been working on an optimization method that requires minimal understanding of optimization theory, but still helps the engineer achieve his or her goal. The ultimate challenge was to find a one-click optimization that would work efficiently for a range of problems: local – global, single objective – multi objective, continuous – discrete, and linear – nonlinear.
Optimization experts, despite happily finding jobs, were not necessarily content with this situation as it reduced the likelihood that optimization techniques were employed in engineering, thus not fully exploiting its potential. If there is only little room for improvement, then use a global search method but of course global search is expensive so first create a metamodel, which means running a space filling DOE, but which method to run? The questions and scenarios were plentiful with answers reflecting the experts’ personal opinion. If there is a computationally demanding simulation, do a space filling DOE and then create a metamodel and use this instead of the exact simulation. For a large number of design variables, do a screening Design of Experiments (DOE) first. Depending on the application, this exercise often became a full-blown project on its own. When mathematical optimization was first introduced to the engineering design world, an optimization expert typically sat with the design engineer to help them apply optimization techniques to their design applications retroactively. Fatma Koçer Business Development Director, Design Exploration