Mean Value-Based Parallel Collaborative Optimization Method for Modular Aircraft Structural Layout

The conventional structural layout optimization method is usually used to solve the layout optimization problem of a single structure, but it is difficult to apply to the layout optimization problem of the modular aircraft structure containing multiple substructures. Therefore, this paper proposes the mean value-based parallel collaborative optimization method (MVPM) for modular aircraft structural layout. This method is a two-stage optimization method based on decomposition. The basic idea of the MVPM is decomposing the layout optimization problem of the modular aircraft structure into a system coordination problem and several independent subsystem optimization problems by introducing coordination variables. The subsystem optimizes each aircraft structure. Under the constraints of the structure itself, the performance of each structure is better, and the shared variables are as close to the coordination variables as possible. The system coordination adjusts the coordination variables according to the optimization results of each subsystem. With constant iteration between the system and subsystems, the shared variables of each subsystem eventually agree with the coordination variables. The numerical test results show that the MVPM has high optimization efficiency and stability.