Bilevel integrated system synthesis for concurrent and distributed processing

A new version is introduced of the bilevel integrated system synthesis method intended for optimization of engineering systems conducted by distributed specialty groups working concurrently in a multiprocessor computing environment. The method decomposes the overall optimization task into subtasks associated with disciplines or subsystems, where the local design variables are numerous and a single, system-level optimization whose design variables are relatively few. The subtasks are fully autonomous as to their inner operations and decision making. Their purpose is to eliminate the local design variables and generate a wide spectrum of feasible designs whose behavior is represented by response surfaces to be accessed by a system-level optimization. It is shown that, if the problem is convex, the solution of the decomposed problem is the same as that obtained without decomposition. A simplified example of an aircraft design shows the method working as intended. A discussion of the method merits and demerits as well as recommendations for further research is included. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]