ABSTRACT
Engineering design is the task of using the scientific and engineering knowledge to create new objects and structures to meet prescribed serviceability, safety, and esthetic requirements in meeting specific needs. In the current chapter, we will explore the potential application of the soft computing methods in engineering design. We are especially interested in the potential application of the evolutionary-based methods, such as genetic algorithm. Since genetic algorithm attempts to mimic the natural evolutionary process that has resulted in the “design” of the higher level live, it is natural to think that some advanced versions of genetic algorithm will have the capability of evolving solutions for engineering design problems. Although such a potential exists, we are far from having genetic algorithm-based methods for engineering design. Recent applications of genetic algorithm are concentrated more on optimization than design, and most researchers increasingly consider the genetic algorithm as an effective tool for optimization problems. We will explore the major differences between optimization and engineering design.
