AERE463/563
Home
Syllabus
Class schedule
External Links
Piazza
Blackboard

AERE463X/563X: Syllabus

Spring Semester 2015

Course description

This course introduces students to the techniques of engineering design optimization, leading into topics for Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO). The course also presents application of these techniques to solve engineering design problems. To accomplish these two tasks, this course has two overlapping parts. The first part of the course exposes students to basic concepts about and to implementation of numerical optimization techniques, assuming that the student has little or no knowledge of these topics. The second part of the course uses this knowledge as the basis for students to investigate approaches for multiobjective and multidisciplinary optimization.

Course goals

In this course, you will:

  1. acquire basic knowledge about optimization techniques

  2. become familiar with techniques for engineering design optimization

  3. understand which methods are appropriate for a given optimization application

  4. develop the ability to formulate engineering problems as optimization problems that are appropriate for a chosen method

  5. use the computer and available software to solve optimal engineering design problems

  6. practice effective technical communication by writing a report documenting your final project

Prerequisites

Knowledge of linear algebra and multivariate calculus. Computer programming skills sufficient to use functions available in Matlab.

Course requirements and grading

  • Electronic homework assessments and project assignments are to be completed by the due dates. Each student will complete a final project. This course will not have examinations, or a final exam.

  • Collaboration with other students on homework is encouraged, but each student is responsible for completing his/her own work.

  • Homework 30%, projects 40%, final project 30%. These weights are approximate; we reserve the right to change them later.

Course materials

There are no required or optional textbooks. However, several texts can serve as reference texts.

  • Multidiscipline Design Optimization, G.N. Vanderplaats

  • Introduction to Optimum Design, J.S. Arora

  • Linear Algebra and Its Applications, G. Strang

  • Matrix Analysis and Applied Linear Algebra, C.D. Meyer

  • Linear Algebra Done Right, S. Axler