Optimal Design

Textbook Resources

Truss Topology Project solution

  2. Linear and Nonlinear Programming by Leunberger and Ye, Springer, 2008 (find ebook from CU Library website)
  3. Numerical Optimization, Nocedal and Wright, Springer, 2006 (find ebook from CU Library website)

Other Resources

  1. UCLA's
  2. UCLA's
  3. UCLA's or Standford's

Topics Covered

(not restricted to this order but will following closely).

  1. Least-Squares
  2. Least-Norm
  3. General Form of Optimization Problems
  4. Formulation of Optimization Problems with Focus on Engineering Applications
    1. Mechanical
    2. Aerospace
    3. Electrical
    4. Control
      • see Dr. Ruben's work on
    5. Statistics
    6. Energy
    7. Games
    8. Operations Research (Industrial)
  5. Geometry of Optimization Problems
  6. Linear Programming
  7. Numerical Methods
    1. Unconstrained Problems
    2. Equality Constrained Problems
    3. Inequality Constrained Problems
  8. Integer Programming

Grading Breakdowns

  1. Individual Work (1000%)

  • Final Exam (20%)
  • Projects (60%)
  • Homework (20%)

Office Hours

Dr. Ruben: Tu, Th, 6:00-7:00pm in ECME 128 (my office)

Canvas

To access the following material such as:

  1. Homework Assignments
  2. Homework Solutions
  3. Project Descriptions

Policies

Projects

  1. Remember these are Individual Assignments
  2. Reports and code submitted should be your own work.  Don't copy from another student.

Homework

  1. Assignments must be neat, organized and legible. In plain English: If we cannot read your assignment, you will not get credit for it. Typed assignments are welcome.
  2. At the start of each problem, write out a brief description of the problem including given information and what is to be found. Put a box around all final answers.
  3. Show your work enough to fully demonstrate your understating and your arrival at your answer.

Grading

  1. You only have TWO WEEKS to question grading from the time the homework\exam is returned.
    1. Specificially for exam grade questions, students must write up a detailed document (using Word or other word processing tool, not hand-written) describing the question, staple it to the original exam, and give it to the professor.
  2. This will be the final grading scale used for the course. There is no curve. You are not competing against classmates, so help them out if you can! I reserve the right to lower the scale (i.e., make it easier), but I will not raise it.
  • A: 90+
  • A-:87-89
  • B+:85-86
  • B : 83-84
  • B-:80-82
  • C+:77-79
  • C : 74-76
  • C-:70-73
  • D+:68-69
  • D : 63-67
  • D-:60-62
  • F : 59 or below

In-Class Expectations

The following expectations will assist us with the creation of a learning community and a high quality of educational experience. The will compliment these expectations:

  1. Turn off your cell phones/ don’t text
  2. No laptops during lectures (unless approved for taking notes or doing some in-class work)
  3. Refrain from having disruptive conversations

Academic Integrity

You will be asked to complete group homework assignments in this course, but it is also expected that you will abide by The ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado Honor Code at all times.

Late Work

No late work will be accepted