Convergence control of single loop approach for reliability-based design optimization

For solution of reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) problems, single loop approach (SLA) shows high efficiency. Thus SLA is extensively used in RBDO. However, the iteration solution procedure by SLA is often oscillatory and non-convergent for RBDO with nonlinear performance function. This prevents the application of SLA to engineering design problems. In this paper, the chaotic single loop approach (CLSA) is proposed to achieve the convergence control of original iterative algorithm in SLA. The modification involves automated selection of the chaos control factor by solving a novel one-dimensional optimization model. Additionally, a new oscillation-checking method is constructed to detect the oscillation of iterative process of design variables. The computational capability of CLSA is demonstrated through five benchmark examples and one stiffened shell application. The comparison of numerical results indicates that CSLA is more efficient than the double loop approach and the decoupled approach. CSLA also solves the RBDO problems with highly nonlinear performance function and non-normal random variables stably.