Multi-objective optimization for section of sandwich plate applied to high-speed train compartments

To investigate the structures of high speed train side walls applicable to different running speeds and operation conditions, a multi-objective optimization design is carried out following structure topology optimization. The weight of sandwich plate, static compliance and maximum deformation are defined as the objectives, the thickness of face panels and cores in five parts of the side wall as the variables while the changing air pressure gradient in compartments as the constraint. The surrogate model techniques are implemented for constructing the response surfaces of objective and constraint functions. Then a multi-objective optimization is performed with NSGA-II to generate a Pareto solution set. The structure performance in Pareto set is greatly improved by 8.21% to 33.58% than that from topology structure, besides, the Pareto solution set provides many alternative Pareto-optimal solutions for optimization design of the sandwich plate section in high-speed trains.