Frontiers of Optimal Design

Abstract

A discussion of the current state and future prospects of optimization in design. Although the emphasis is on the use of computerized algorithms, attention is also given to the evolutionary and intuitive processes in optimal design. The importance of the process of imbedding optimization algorithms in the whole design process is emphasized. It is argued that no single nonlinear programming technique can be expected to dominate the field, and that we cannot anticipate any major breakthrough in the achievement of a rapid global optimum.