Genetic algorithm optimization of the effective Young moduli in a perforated plate
A regularly perforated thin elastic plate is considered as a general design object in a particular context of finding the hole shapes which maximize its effective Young moduli. This free boundary problem of 2D elasticity is solved numerically by genetic algorithm (GA) approach. A fast and accurate fitness evaluation scheme is combined with an especially designed encoding procedure to adapt a standard evolutionary algorithm to the problem requirements. These innovations make the proposed technique sufficiently stable and sensitive to identify the optimum even near the cellular solids limit. Detailed numerical results are presented and general correlations with available literature data are noted. This paper continues the previous work of the author (Vigdergauz 2001a,b) in finding the 1-scale optimal structures.
genetic algorithm linear elasticity perforated structure effective moduli shape optimization