Interactive physical programming: Tradeoff analysis and decision making inmulticriteria optimization

This research focuses on multiobjective system design and optimization. The goal is to extend the physical programming (Messac, A., "Physical Programm ing: Effective Optimization for Design," AIAA Journal, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1996 , pp. 149-158). Framework to develop an interactive physical programming (I PP) framework that takes into account the designer's or the decision maker' s (DM's) preferences during the optimization process, and allows for design exploration at a given Pareto design. The IPP framework provides the DM wi th Pareto-sensitivity information, a Pareto surface approximation, a formal decision-making strategy, and a Pareto visualization tool for efficient de sign (or Pareto surface) exploration at a given Pareto design, The IPP has been successfully applied to two test problems. The first problem consists of a set of simple analytical expressions for its objective and constraints , The second problem is the design and sizing of a high-performance and low -cost 10-bar structure that has multiple objectives. Results indicate that the IPP framework is effective in capturing the local preferences of the DM . The Pareto designs that reflect the DM's preferences can be efficiently g enerated using the IPP framework. More importantly, the IPP provides the DM with a Pareto visualization tool that facilitates the study of existing tr adeoffs between objectives in a physically meaningful way.