Equality Constraints in Multiobjective Robust Design Optimization: Implications and Tradeoffs

Abstract

In the present paper, we explore issues in handling equality constraints in multiobjective robust design optimization (RDO) problems. Satisfying an equality constraint exactly under uncertainty can be a challenging task. The challenge of handling equality constraints is compounded in multiobjective RDO problems. Modeling the tradeoffs between the mean of the performance and the variation of the performance for each design objective in a multiobjective RDO problem is a complex task by itself. Equality constraints add to this complexity because of the additional tradeoffs that are introduced between constraint satisfaction under uncertainty and multiobjective performance. Satisfying equality constraints at their mean values, an approach typically followed, could lead to undesirable results. In this paper, we study the implications of equality constraint satisfaction in a multiobjective RDO problem, and provide a new problem formulation approach to resolve the above discussed tradeoffs. We illustrate that the proposed formulation can be used as an effective multiobjective design space exploration tool, with emphasis on equality constraint satisfaction under uncertainty. We present numerical examples to illustrate our theoretical developments.