Design Optimization

A compression spring is a spring that is designed to operate with a compressive force, typically to absorb shock or to return a component to its original position. Compression springs are usually made from coils of wire and have several important features such as a height, an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and a wire diameter. They can be used in a variety of applications, such as in car suspensions and valve mechanisms.

The specifications and modeling equations for a compression spring create a number of trade-offs that must be considered during design. We wish to determine the spring design that maximizes the force of a spring at its preload height, h_o, of 1.0 inches. The spring is to operate an indefinite number of times through a deflection delta_o, of 0.4 inches, which is an additional deflection from h_o. The stress at the solid height, h_s, must be less than S_y to protect the spring from inadvertent damage.

Full Spring Design Assignment

Turn in a report with the following sections:

1. Title Page with Summary. The Summary should be short (less than 50 words), and give the main optimization results.
2. Procedure: Give a brief description of your model. You are welcome to refer to the assignment which should be in the Appendix. Also include:
   1. A table with the analysis variables, design variables, analysis functions and design functions.
3. Results: Briefly describe the results of optimization (values). Also include:
   1. A table showing the optimum values of variables and functions, indicating binding constraints and/or variables at bounds (highlighted)
   2. A table giving the various starting points which were tried along with the optimal objective values reached from that point.
4. Discussion of Results: Briefly discuss the optimum and design space around the optimum. Do you feel this is a global optimum? Also include and briefly discuss:
   1. A “zoomed out” contour plot showing the design space (both feasible and infeasible) for coil diameter vs. wire diameter, with the feasible region shaded and optimum marked.
   2. A “zoomed in” contour plot of the design space (mostly feasible space) for coil diameter vs. wire diameter, with the feasible region shaded and optimum marked.
5. Appendix:
   1. Listing of your model with all variables and equations
   2. Solver output with details of the convergence to the optimal values

Any output from the software is to be integrated into the report (either physically or electronically pasted) as given in the sections above. Tables and figures should all have explanatory captions. Do not just staple pages of output to your assignment: all raw output is to have notations made on it. For graphs, you are to shade the feasible region and mark the optimum point. For tables of design values, you are to indicate, with arrows and comments, any variables at bounds, any binding constraints, the objective, etc. (You need to show that you understand the meaning of the output you have included.)

Introduction to the Spring Problem

Help Session

This assignment can be completed in collaboration with others. Additional guidelines on individual, collaborative, and group assignments are provided under the Expectations link.

Solution Help

See GEKKO documentation and additional example problems.