Application of uniform design to optimal design of stability

The uniform method used in modern experimental design, is introduced and developed. The concept of residual table is defined and used to find optimal direction in the process of optimization. As a case study, the buckling optimal designs for column with varied thickness and constrained volume under free-fixed and hinge-fixed conditions are carried out with the developed method. The results show that, critical loads are improved significantly comparing to the column with uniform thickness under the same conditions. Consequently, the developed uniform design method can be used for optimal design of structural stability.