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Project Archive

These project reports were submitted by students enrolled in the graduate course Design Optimization (ME 566 or ME 555) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 2006, as part of their course requirements. They have been archived here as a resource for both instructors and students interested in design optimization. All projects include a modeling and solution part. There are no guarantees that either part is correct in every respect, but most of them are a labor of love by their authors. They are provided “as is.” The conduct of the project work has typically followed the guidelines offered in my textbook. The said conduct may even offer a historical testament to the evolution of our design optimization thinking and practice.

There is a wealth of project topics. You may search the titles of the projects using the "find" functionality of your browser. (This is why all the projects are in a single, really long page.) There are several hundred projects consisting of more than 10,000 pages of material. Project titles in gray are not available at this time. We are adding reports on an on-going basis.

The digital compilation was performed initially by Matt Parkinson to whom I am indebted. I am gradeful to Jeongwoo Han for continuing updates.

These projects remain the property of the University of Michigan and of the authors. When you use the projects, please reference the course, the authors, and this website. Please do not send me any questions about these projects. I won’t remember!

Thank you.

Panos Y. Papalambros, Ann Arbor, April 2006

 

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2007

Optimization of Hair Beauty in African-American Women; Michael Alexander, Tahira Reid and Harshit Sarin

Optimal Automotive Design in Response to Environmental Policies; Katie Kerfoot, Esra Suel and Monica Toma

Plant/Control Optimization of a PEM Hybrid Fuel Cell Vehicle to Grid (V2G) System; Dongsuk Kum and Scott Moura

Optimization of End Mill and Operation Parameters for 3D Slot Milling; Hsin-Yu Kuo, Jonathan Loss and Joseph John Piazza

The Product Design Optimization of Market Sales, Environmental Cost Impact, and Battery Life of a Cellular Phone; Michele Goe, Ye Eun Park and Seung Cheol Yang

Backhoe Optimization; Rahul Sangole, Fernando Tavares and Diane Peters

A Home from Sun and Wind; Ellie Nick, Akshay Pawar and Pat Trizila

Optimal Design of an Ocean Energy VIVACE Converter; Tae Jin Kim, Nikhil Bolar and Dimitrios E. Maroulis

Design Optimization of a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope; Anupam S. Garge and Kwang Jae Lee

2006

Optimization of Vehicle Subsystems to Minimize Roll Effect; Aditya Inamdar, Aneesh Padalkar, Akshay Bichkar and Aditya Rajderkar

Optimization strategies for the mechanical and control design of DC motor; Gayathri Seenumani, Rajeev Verma and Hsin-Hsiang Yang

Optimization of the Roomba Vacuum; Donhoon Lee and Marc Zawislak

Optimization of Damage Control Equipment within an Engine Room Onboard a Medium Sized Patrol Ship; Ben Anderson, Kurt Sacks and Rob Mohr

Optimal Investment Portfolio Design; Chelsea May and Richard Niedzwiecki

Is the Soda Can Optimized?; Taekyung Lee, Heesuk Kang, Jungkap Park and Taemin Earmme

Optimizing the Energy-Saving Investments for a Residential House; Sung Kwon Jung and Hongwei Jia

Optimization of Four Speed Conventional Automatic Transmission for Reduction in Diesel Engine Particulate Emissions of a HMMWV; Rahul Ahlawat, Julien Meaud and Ubaid Rehman

Optimization of the Environmental Controls in an Aquarium Habitat; Tanna Alford and Roshan Joseph

2005

Optimization of Design and Lathe Manufacturing Processes for an Oil Pump Cover and Shaft; Chris Cadotte, Daniel Ketchum, Dragan Maric and Eric Stahmer

Optimization of a Computer Mouse; Pranav Kumar, Sharath Kumar, Jeremy Mayer and Aakash Patel

GO-KART Optimization; Amit Jain, Carlos Sierra, Tom Tarnacki and Hans

Design Optimization for Building Entryway; YoungJae Kim, Sehyun Chang, Byungsik Lee and Il Yeo

Thermally Efficient House; Brian Barnes, Bhumika Lathia, Anupam Pathak and Joshua Ravich

Parametric Design Optimization of a Double Hull U.S. Coastal Product Tanker; Michael Cilenti, Daniel Cost and Caner Sarioglu

Optimization of a Diesel Engine Exaust System Considering Performance and Manufacturing; April Bryan, Bart Frischknecht, Kevin Gady and Xiaowei Zhu

Three Parallel Engines Hybrid Vehicle; Yuzo Konishi, Abigail R. Mechtenberg and Alix Tchana Tchana

Optimization of a Single Cylinder Water Filter; Yu-Chun Lin and Mu-Yun Huo

Design and Control Optimization of a PEM Fuel Cell; Vasilis Tsourapas and Amey Karnik

2004

Submarine hullform optimization; Oscar Tascon and Steven Zalek

Optimal Mountain Bike Design; Michael Cherry, Jarod Kelly and John Redmond

The Optimal Wine - A Study in Design Optimization; Alexis Lubesky, Erin MacDonald and Bryon Sohns

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Heavy-Lift Helicopter Rotor in Hover; Talha Kidwai, Smith Thepvongs and Robert Wohlgemuth

Optimal Design of a Catalyst and Controller for a Portable Electric Generator; Chatanya Sampara and Ed Tate

Optimization of an HEV for Handling, Fuel Economy, Performance, and Packaging Considerations; James Allison, Chino Imediegwu, Nick Magnuski, Eric Rask and Dushyant Wadivkar

PCB chip location optimization; Seung Hwean Keum, Young Seok Oh, Keychun Park and Jeongwoo Han

Optimization Design of a Single-Span Spliced Prestressed Concrete Highway Bridge; Jiulong Sun andPimpida (Grace) Surakomol

2003
Professor Papalambros was on sabbatical leave during 2003 and no student projects were conducted that year.
2002

Target cascading for truck design under financial and technical specifications; Adam Cooper, Rachel Dooley, Vasilios Hamosfakidis and Patrick Kostun

Vehicle optimization for comfort and safety; Karim Hamza, Juan Reyes-Luna and Ilkin Hossoy

Optimal portfolio valuation for hybrid trucks by means of control strategy and component design coordination; Bin Wu, Zhijun Li, Shan Li and Jingxu He

Optimal design of a Trebuchet; Talha Kidwai, Steven Swisher and Jon Kadish

Manufacturing error minimization for milling operations; Selin Kurnaz, Mustafa Gunduz and Naesung Lyu

Vehicle powertrain optimization including automatic transmission; Pradeep Attibele, Dirk Krause, Aaron Hula and Kamalesh Alladi

Dynamic InWeighter optimization; Astmundur Nielsson, Gudmundur Olafsson and Tanakorn Tantanawat

Camless drivetrain; Ron Grover, James Alexander, Alan Fung and Ali Hashmi

Suspension design; Youngwon Hahn and Seungjoo Lee

2001

Optimization of membrane filtration system for metal working fluid; Gerardo Oviedo Toral, Kuei-Yuan Chan (Miles) and Thanikarn Sumsuwan (Bao)

Optimization of an inertial grade micro-accelerometer; Sung-Joon Hwang, Alexis Perez-Duarte and Brian Trease

Automotive hydraulic disc brake system optimization; Yaniv Rock, Lara Sherefkin and Nolan Thompson

Parameter optimization of electromagnic bodies: FSS elements and patch antennas; Eng Swee Siah and Taesik Yang

HEV optimization; Ganesh Balasubramanian, Berrin Daran, Sambasivan Subramanian and Cetin Yilmaz

SUV powertrain optimization; Jeremy L. Cavagnolo, James S. Dunn, Bart M. Johnson and Jim L. Vendlinski

Optimization of a capacity planned model for semi-conductor manufacturing with re-entrant characteristics; Arup Chatterji, Li Tang and ChoonHun William Lim

555-01-08

Optimal design of product platforms; Onur Cetin, Supat Ieamsupapong and Emre Kazancioglu

CVT design for optimim performance; James W. Howell, Jr., Bumho Choi, Taeyong Kim and John E. Harder III

Optimal vehicle styling; Nazmi Cem Dincer, Jeong Yuseok and Xuemei Xin

Dimensional and structural optimization of a jetfighter speed brake; Hee Won Ro and Uiwon Jung

Conceptural design of tension leg platform; Libin Miao and Bonhyung Koo

2000

Optimal driving strategy for a solar electric vehicle; Jason Kramb and Andy Sievers

Optimal wind power generation using a flyball-governed continuously variable transmission; Geoff Rideout and Hosam K. Fathy

Robust optimization of linear micro vibromotor for micro assembly; Rajagopal V. Sevilimedu and Srinivas Bhashyam

Wind turbine design optimization; Jonathan Weinert and Dhruv Acharya

Single use accelerometer; Mike Cole and Harshad Natu

Optimal apartment layout design; Ruchi Choudhary nad Jeremy Michalek

Optimization in platform design for hydraulic vane motors; Byungwoo Lee and Meng-Huang Lu

Design optimization of the rotors of a one-man compact helicopter; Tomas Diaz

Parameter optimization for drilling on steel; Yunnshing Ong and Zimin Yang

Development and evaluation of a nonlinear optimization model to support the calibration process of an SI engine; Sergio Quelhas and Edward Himes

Photon: a four-place business jet; Alex Ruop and Aaron Binns

Optimize the micromechanical cantilever for data storage; Cheng-Yu Lin and Seiwoong Oh

Design optimization of heave lifting crane barge system; Zhidong Zhang

Determination of the optimal hybrid-electric vehicle configuration; John Whitehead and Jarrod Beglinger

Optimal design of a force-multiplication device for resonant accelerometers; Michael Farina and Brian Jensen

Design optimization of a helicopter rotor wing; Rafael Mora and Matthew Potoff

Determination of the optimum part orientation in layered manufacturing; Ozge Gurgur and Bahadir Pakis

1999

Optimal design of a gearbox for a benchtop milling machine; Cem Baydur and Polat Sendur

Optimal stiffener configuration for the cross bride of a high speed catamaran; Jeff Emch and Michael Allen

Optimal preliminary design of a trans-pacific containership; Tomoki Ichikawa and Vincent J. Skwarek

Optimization of a tool tip servo for boring bars; George O'Neal and Liang-kuang Chen

Optimization for heat dissipation of vehicle braking system; Hsun-Hau Huang and Kerr-Jia Lu

555-99-06

Optimal design of an amusement park "octupus" arm and hand design; Sungtae Hong and Wonjoo Roh

Optimization of a caliper disc brake; Dan Gress and Ashish Lahoti

Optimization of a composite golf club shaft; Simon Palko and Nathaniel Stott

Optimal design of a 4-bar compliant mechanism for an automotive rear-view mirror; Janghyuk Pyon and Ryan Proctor

Optimization of a pneumatic lifting device; Christopher Kondongiani and Edwin Ryan

Hot tub cover spring optimization; Jaime Camelio and Eden Weston

555-99-13

Optimization study of a hybrid electric vehicle: a dynamic approach; Gil Abramovich and Panayiotis Georgiopoulos

Optimal design of a friction disc brake for an automotive application; Gullu Kiziltas and Ali Yigit Ungoren

Optimal design of a motorcycle shock absorber; Christopher Milkie

Transmission case design optimization for face mill manufacturing process; Carl M. Romack

1998

Design optimization of an earth-orbiting synthetic aperture radar mapper; Samir Malpathak and Robert Webbink

Design optimization of a three-dimensional force-feedback device; Justin King and Vikas Sinha

Specific work maximization for a c-block piezoelectric actuator; Joe Clement and Brian Rood

Conceptual design of tension legs for an offshore platform; Jirasak Jariyakosol

Design optimization of a telescoping piezoelectric linear actuator; Paul Alexander and Neal Berner

Stability optimization of an automobile brake; Kazuaki Chiku and Hui Wang

Design optimization of a truck suspension lower control arm; Kien Lam and Ajay Sharma

Optimization of a DC motor and its controller; Malih Cakmakci and Jeff Ahrens

Optimization of an axial piston pump; Muzaffer Senoguz and Youji Ma

Optimization of a single-pass turning process; Yuan-hung Ma and Yi-feng Tsai

Mass optimization of a window lift mechanism; Jennifer Degazio and John Dockstader

1997

Design of parking brake in the vacuum-assisted hydraulic brake system; Hyung Min Kim

Design and Optimization of a Waste Disposal System; Ryan Fellini and Nnaemeka Nwosu

Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Project: Optimal Component Selection and Sizing; Michael Sasena

Design Optimization of a Diesel Engine; Christopher Scheffer

1996

Orbital pump project; Nathan Batts and Jose Pastor

Thermal efficiency optimization of a six cylinder diesel engine; Osvaldo Corona and Caleo Tsai

Design optimization of a naturally aspirated diesel engine; George Delagrammatikas

Crankshaft design optimization: minimizing engine (crankshaft journal) friction and minimizing crankshaft mass; Michael DeJack and Suzanne Nagrant

Damage tolerance design of a micro-electronic packaging; Yuhai Mei and Linda Huang

Design optimization of automotive suspension systems; Jinyong Joo and Shinji Nishiwaki

Torsion bar design; Hon Joon Chung and Luis G. Buitrago

Residential solar heating system optimization; Jeff Donovan and Tim Fisk

Optimization of training protocols for freestyle swimming; Glen W. Chung and Alexander C. Kazerooni

Rear rail optmization; Edwin Jones and Philip Voglewede

40 km bicycle time trial: race strategy and bicycle design optmization; Jim Kline and Keith Wood

Valve timing optimization project; Mike Olree and Mike Staniszewski

Optimization of a paraboloid solar collector for maximizing work rate to mass; Michael W. Cowden

1995

Cost optimization of single point turning operations; Nick Rallis, Stephen Meyer and Jaime McPherson

Design optimization of simple hydraulic press; Somkiat Kittichaikulkij

Optimization of a 5 DOF passive suspension system; Ravichandra Seelamsetty

Mono-ski design optimization; Amy Hansen

Truss optimization; Greg Gooch and Marc Milobin

Optimization design: minimization of an automobile shock tower volume; Tamar Liebermann and Muhammud Abbas

Optimal design of a box-section girder an overhead crane; Daniel B. McGowan

Optimization of an automotive starter force requirement and solenoid size; Maria D. Boham

The optimization of braking efficiency for pickup trucks; Wei-Shang Ku and Meng-Shiuan Wu

Optimization of a hydraulic noise suppressor for commercial aircraft; Tim Mulligan

Optimization of an automotive disc brake rotor; Sally Chang and Mark R. Hoffmann

Course specific optimization of bicycle gearing; Eric Brown and Vijay Kumra

Design of a submerged-pipe bundle slurry cooler optimized for minimum pressure drop, minimum pipe number, and minimum working fluid mass flow; Kent A. Pickett

Optimal design of an elliptical cross section valve spring with a varying spring constant; Bruce Williams and Ragnar Sverisson

Maximizing engine torque: applying optimization techniques to an engine simulation code; Ron Johnson and Michael Stenman

Minimizing power consumption of an HEV cooling system; Jason Schatzle and John Stanavich

Centrifugal valve optimization study; Kenneth B. Austin

Optimization of a human powered drag race; Adrian Adamson and Mark Fischer

1994

Optimization of a tuned expansion chamber for a two-stroke engine; Kevin Ladd and Cynthia Rice

Size and shape optimization - with application to a compressor reed valve; Glenn C. Griner

Airport capacity optimization; D. Stockman and T. Palmer

Optimal propeller design for given hull and speed; Richard Akers

Optimization of single stage bevel gear engine-to-rotor helicopter transmission; Nicole Breniser and Patrick Callery

Optimization of Toroidal Traction Drive Continuously Variable Transmission; Edwin Jacox and Anne Marsan

1993

Optimization of automotive geometry to minimize required driving force; Mushtaq Ahmad and Brian Perry

Optimal design of elastic sandwich beams; Arnold Lumsdaine

Mass optimization of a spark ignition engine piston; Bob Crespi and Joe Marshalek

Optimization of a chain drive system for an overhead cam engine; George Bernwanger and Somkiat Masunthasuwun

Optimal door fitting in automobile manufacturing; Ted Messerly and Davoud Khorzad

Optimal Design of a Centrifugal Pump Impeller with Casing; Ramprasad S. Krishnamachari

Optimization of dual beam laser welding system; Yu-Ning Liu and Tien-Ching Chen

A serial production line with quality control performance measure optimization; Cheryl L. Ryans

Optimization of vehicle performance; Jason Provancher and Don McWilliam

Minimizing power consumption in an ER shock absorber; James D. Ervin and Chris Norman

Optimization study of a single engine business jet; Michael Hailye and Vasanth Suratkal

Optimal block design of a 3.0 liter V6 automobile engine; Nick Nagrant and Randall Scheps

Optimal balancing of robotic manipulator using counterweights; Hung-Kuei Chen and Gary Ng

Optimization of a machine tool gearbox; Prashant Kulkarni and Tim Athan

Dimensional optimization of a civil transport aircraft; Loucas Louca and Scott Corrington

Optimization of a ceramic honeycomb heat exchanger; Todd Crompton

Optimal design of an overhead crane runway girder; Stephen D. Ambo and Donald E. Whitacre

Flywheel optimization project; Sigurd A. Nelson II and Charles E. Freese V

Optimization of duct system design; Arvind Singhal and Dilip Dubey

1992~
1991
Professor Papalambros was on sabbatical leave during 1991 and 1992 and no student projects were conducted that year.
1990

Optimal Design of a Clamp Load Transducer for Pressure Distribution Resolution; T. Miglio, B. Warden.

Optimal Design of an Industrial Duct System; A. J. Sajdak, I. Soni.

Optimization of an Alenax Bicycle Crank Arm; T. A. Bertcher, B. W. Macks.

Design Optimization of a Drive-Screw Linear Actuator; B. A. Alexander, B. J. Rycenga.

Optimization of Machine-Tool Spindle; Y. L. Chen, H. H. Kuo.

Optimal Design of a Dynamic Vibration Absorber for a Cantilever Beam; L. A. Stanton, A.T. Chen.

Optimization of a Bumper System; D. E. Mayer, D. E. Malen.

Optimization of a Power Screw Car Jack; S. E. Kuiken, T. M. Sharda.

Design Optimization of a Convergent Nozzle; K. W. O'Keefe, J. A. Norman.

Shaft Assembly for Buffing Operations; D. A. Bell, J. L. Borodkin.

Tubular Stabilizer Bar Optimization; B. K. Beard, L. Lenox.

Applications of Shape Optimization in Structures; W. P. Lee, H. C. Gea.

Racing Car Disk Brake Weight Optimization; J. Beranek, R. Bolt.

Hydraulic Engine Mount Optimization; J. Hicks, R. Sroka.

555-90-15

Design Optimization of a Kinematically Redundant Robot Arm; R. Hart, J. Morgan.

An Optimization Study of a Finned Heat Exchanger in an Orbiting Space Station; R. J. Weber, T. Hollister.

Design Optimization of Steering Column Support; T. Laske, C. Larner.

Optimization of Valve Trains; W. S. Choi, J. Levin.

Optimal Design of VCR Head Drive; S. H. Lee, J. K. Lee

Optimal Design of Gear Pump; S. G. Lee, B. T. Lin.

Gear Ratio Optimization to Minimize Quarter-Mile Acceleration Time; R. S. Kalnas, J. D. Fehring.

555-90-22

Applications of Structural Optimization; Y. K. Park.

1989

Optimization study: tripot universal joint housing, balls and needles; S. Glaser and P. Stenglein

Mixed-discrete nonlinear programming: a cost optimization example; Roy Johanson

Further work on optimization of a ship's bottom structure from the standpoint of minimized production cost; William Krol

Mixed-discrete optimization of independent vehicle suspension with control arms; Chihsiung Lo

Optimization of a drive axle seal convolute; Robin Milavec and Jean Botti

Tripot joint spider optimization; Jon N. Miller

The optimal design of a rotary type actuator for magnetic disk drives; Robert Voss and Mike Waldrop

1988

Cost Optimization of Liquid Fuel Rockets; Roy Johanson

Optimal Design of Telescoped Cantilevered Crane Boom; Jianhong Zhang and Akira Tezuka

Optimization of the Wire Drawing Process; Roshan B Gudapati and Mark D. Salisbury

Optimization Study of a Finned Tube Heat Exchanger; Dale Vanderlaan and Gary Vaandrager

Optimal Design of Girders for Electric Overhead Travelling Cranes; Peter S Szpak

Airfoil Design Optimization; Julio E. Santos

Optimal Design of a Robotic Manipulator for Maximum Manipulability; Scott Furry and Kent Piland

Improvement of Docking Tool Design Using Optimization Techniques; Bill Haering and Leonard Pomrehn

Optimization of a Turning Operation; Richard Furness and Engelbert Lu

Bicycle Rim Optimization Study; Tim Chi and Chuck Ford

Optimization of a Roller Bearing and Torsion Shaft Assembly; Albert Ekladyous and Varinder Sooch