Multi-objective optimization in material design and selection

The development or selection of a material to meet given design requirement s generally requires that a compromise be struck between several, usually c onflicting, objectives. The ways in which multiobjective optimization metho ds can be adapted to address this problem are explored. It is found that tr ade-off surfaces give a way of visualizing the alternative compromises, and that value functions (or "ultimate" functions) identify the part of the su rface on which optimal solutions lie. The method is illustrated with exampl es. (C) 2000 Acta Metallurgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.