In the paper a research on cost-effective optimum design boiling temperature for Organic Rankine Cycle utilizing low-temperature heat sources is presented. The ratio of the heat exchanger area of the boiler to the power output is used as the objective function. Analytical relations for heat transfer area as well power of the cycle are formulated. Evaporation temperature and inlet temperature of the heat source medium as well its mass flow rate are varied in the optimization method. The optimization is carried out for three working fluids, i.e. R 134a, water and ethanol. The objective function (economics profitability, thermodynamic efficiency) leads to different optimal working conditions in terms of evaporating temperature. Maximum power generation in the near-critical conditions of subcritical ORC is the highest. The choice of the working fluid can greatly affect the objective function which is a measure of power plant cost. Ethanol exhibits a minimum objective function but not necessarily the maximum cycle efficiency.

A suitable use of software packages for optimization problems can give the possibility to formulate design problems of robotic mechanical systems by taking into account the several aspects and behaviours for optimum solutions both in design and operation. However, an important issue that can be even critical to obtain practical solutions can be recognized in a proper identification and formulation of criteria for optimability purposes and numerical convergence feasibility. In this paper, we have reported experiences that have been developed at LARM in Cassino by referring to the abovementioned issues of determining a design procedure for manipulators both of serial and parallel architectures. The optimality criteria are focused on the well-recognized main aspects of workspace, singularity, and stiffness. Computational aspects are discussed to ensure numerical convergence to solutions that can be also of practical applications. In particular, optimality criteria and computational aspects have been elaborated by taking into account the peculiarity and constraint of each other. The general concepts and formulations are illustrated by referring to specific numerical examples with satisfactory results.

The present study has been taken up to emphasize the role of the hybridization process for optimizing a given reinforced concrete (RC) frame. Although various primary techniques have been hybrid in the past with varying degree of success, the effect of hybridization of enhanced versions of standard optimization techniques has found little attention. The focus of the current study is to see if it is possible to maintain and carry the positive effects of enhanced versions of two different techniques while using their hybrid algorithms. For this purpose, enhanced versions of standard particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a standard gravitational search algorithm (GSA), were considered for optimizing an RC frame. The enhanced version of PSO involves its democratization by considering all good and bad experiences of the particles, whereas the enhanced version of the GSA is made self-adaptive by considering a specific range for certain parameters, like the gravitational constant and a set of agents with the best fitness values. The optimization process, being iterative in nature, has been coded in C++. The analysis and design procedure is based on the specifications of Indian codes. Two distinct advantages of enhanced versions of standard PSO and GSA, namely, better capability to escape from local optima and a faster convergence rate, have been tested for the hybrid algorithm. The entire formulation for optimal cost design of a frame includes the cost of beams and columns. The variables of each element of structural frame have been considered as continuous and rounded off appropriately to consider practical limitations. An example has also been considered to emphasize the validity of this optimum design procedure.

At present, the cushion thickness of composite foundation under rigid base is mostly selected by the experience of the engineer, which is of great arbitrariness. In order to improve this problem, the optimum design method of cushion thickness is proposed by theoretical research. First, the stress diffusion line in the cushion is assumed to be a quadratic curve, and the critical diffusion thickness of the pile top stress is obtained. Then, by analyzing the relative deformation between soil and pile, pile top penetration into the critical cushion thickness is proposed. Finally, based on the relationship between stress ratio of pile to soil and cushion thickness, the calculation method of optimum cushion thickness is put forward. The application of engineering cases shows that the proposed method has better calculation results, which attests to the correctness of the method. The method can be used for the optimal design of cushion thickness of single-type-pile or multi-type-pile composite foundation.