Design optimization of hierarchically decomposed multilevel systems under uncertainty

This paper presents a methodology for design optimization of hierarchically decomposed systems under uncertainty. We propose an extended, probabilistic version of the deterministic analytical target cascading (ATC) formulation by treating uncertain quantities as random variables and posing probabilistic design constraints. A bottom-to-top coordination strategy is used for the ATC process. Given that first-order approximations may introduce unacceptably large errors, we use a technique based on the advanced mean value method to estimate uncertainty propagation through the multilevel hierarchy of elements that comprise the decomposed system. A simple yet illustrative hierarchical bilevel engine design problem is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology. The results confirm the applicabilhy of the proposed probabilistic ATC,formulation and the accuracy of the uncertainty propagation technique.