Seungpyo Hong , Sejin Kim , Innyoung Kim , Donghyun You
{"title":"Deep reinforcement learning-based control algorithm for flight kinematics of insect-scale flyers","authors":"Seungpyo Hong , Sejin Kim , Innyoung Kim , Donghyun You","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An autonomous flight control algorithm based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is developed for insect-scale flyers with flexible wings in complex flow environments, addressing the challenges posed by highly unsteady and nonlinear aeroelastic dynamics. Unlike conventional model-based approaches, this study employs high-fidelity computational fluid–structural dynamics (CFD-CSD) simulations that fully resolve the governing equations of both the fluid and the flyer, providing physically consistent data for training the DRL agent. To mitigate the computational cost, a novel physics-guided data augmentation strategy is introduced, which synthetically expands the training dataset by replicating CFD-CSD data across diverse virtual flight scenarios while preserving the underlying physics. This approach enables the DRL agent to learn a robust control policy that generalizes across a broad range of aerodynamic conditions, demonstrating strong control performance even in complex and untrained flow environments. This work establishes a scalable framework for the autonomous control of flexible, bio-inspired flyers under realistic aerodynamic conditions, representing a significant step toward fully autonomous insect-scale flight.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104014"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guoxi Jing , Qiqiang Tong , Yafei Fu , Libin Zhao , Yi Han , Chao Liu
{"title":"Complex profile optimization of marine diesel engine piston pin bore using hybrid GA-BP neural network and NSGA-II algorithm","authors":"Guoxi Jing , Qiqiang Tong , Yafei Fu , Libin Zhao , Yi Han , Chao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address deformation mismatch and stress concentration in the pin holes of a steel-topped aluminum-skirted combined piston under service conditions, this study proposes a surface optimization methodology integrating axial and circumferential bore profiles. By constructing a genetic algorithm-optimized backpropagation neural network surrogate model combined with the NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm and CRITIC weighting decision mechanism, this approach achieves multi-parameter collaborative optimization for the pin hole's intricate geometric configuration. Results demonstrate that compared to the original design, the optimized complex surface reduces peak contact pressure by 66.7 %, decreases equivalent stress by 52.0 %, and lowers equivalent stress at bolt counterbores by 44.1 %. Relative to axial profile-only optimization, the contact pressure is further reduced by 12.4 %. The proposed method effectively resolves stress inhomogeneity induced by elliptical deformation, with finite element simulations verifying that axial-circumferential collaborative optimization significantly enhances load distribution uniformity and fatigue resistance. This work provides a systematic algorithmic approach for high-reliability piston design, advancing the application of intelligent optimization techniques in engine component engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104015"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144896313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Less than 500 lines self-contained Python finite element implementation of the phase-field method for fracture mechanics","authors":"Nathan Shauer","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a simple self-contained finite element implementation of the phase-field method for fracture mechanics. The implementations are done in Python, and they only use the standard <span>NumPy</span> and <span>SciPy</span> libraries for basic matrix operations and to solve the resulting systems of equations. The AT2 phase-field model is adopted and the additive decomposition of the energy density is employed to prevent fracture propagation under compressive stresses. The alternate minimization algorithm is adopted for solving the nonlinear system of equations. The implementation is verified using three examples: a bar under tension, a notched plate under tension, and a three-point bending test. The results display good agreement with analytical solutions and solutions from other authors. Each example is less than 500 lines long, and they are available on GitHub at <span><span>https://github.com/nathanshauer/phasefield-jr-py</span><svg><path></path></svg></span> and as supplementary data to this article. These Python scripts are intended for educational purposes and to provide a simple starting point for those interested in the phase-field method for fracture mechanics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104013"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dynamic analysis of prestressed laminated stepped spherical-cylindrical shells","authors":"Tianchen Huang , Kunpeng Zhu , Qingshan Wang , Rui Zhong","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A dynamic analysis model for the laminated spherical-cylindrical shell structures under prestress is established to investigate its vibration characteristics. Based on the first-order shear deformation theory, the constitutive equations of the structural system are derived. The displacement and rotational components of the shell segments are expanded using a combination of Jacobi polynomials and Fourier series. To handle the complexities of boundary conditions and interfacial continuity between substructures, virtual spring stiffness, treated as penalty parameters, is introduced, and the dynamic characteristics of the structure are solved using the Ritz method. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed method are verified through comparisons with results from existing literature and simulations data of finite element method (FEM). Additionally, prestress is applied through continuously distributed surface loads. The study focused on examining the effects of key factors, including prestress magnitude, structural dimensions, and boundary conditions, on the free and forced vibration characteristics of the stepped shell system. This investigation aimed to elucidate the intrinsic relationship between parameter variations and dynamic responses. The computational results can provide safety guidance for the preliminary design of composite shells under prestressed conditions in engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104018"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qiangwei Zhao , Chong Wang , Tongxing Zuo , Qianglong Wang , Zhenyu Liu
{"title":"A domain evolution method to suppress the eigenfrequency and eigenmode errors caused by low-density elements in dynamic topology optimization","authors":"Qiangwei Zhao , Chong Wang , Tongxing Zuo , Qianglong Wang , Zhenyu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In dynamic topology optimization involving eigenfrequencies, the solution of the direct problem is expected to reasonably reflect the mechanical performance of the real structure. However, due to the presence of low-density elements in the fixed design domain, there are always some errors compared to the real structure obtained through post-processing. These errors include errors in eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes, which may adversely affect the optimization process. This issue becomes especially pronounced when optimizing higher-order eigenfrequencies, where the errors can lead to discontinuities in the solution space and hinder convergence. To overcome this issue, this paper proposes a domain evolution method (DEM). In this method, the fixed design domain is divided into three domains: the solid domain, the narrow-band, and the low-density domain. The direct problem analysis is solved within the computational domain, which consists of the solid domain and the narrow-band, while the low-density domain remains inactive. Several examples are used to validate the proposed method. Numerical results indicate that the errors primarily arise during the form-finding process and become more significant with increasing order of eigenfrequency. The proposed method effectively mitigates these errors, ensuring stable convergence of the optimization process. Furthermore, a comparative analysis between the proposed method and the traditional approach shows that, in higher-order problems, low-density elements are closely related to classical issues in dynamic topology optimization, including localized modes, repeated eigenfrequencies, and mode switching phenomena. This provides further insight into the intrinsic difficulties of high-order eigenfrequency topology optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104011"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144864959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CH:ALK - Rapid automatic labeling toolkit to develop training images for concrete damage segmentation models","authors":"Hyojae Shin , Byunghyun Kim , Soojin Cho","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the growing demand for automated structural inspection due to the aging of civil infrastructure, deep segmentation models have been increasingly adopted with the imaging of structures. However, training the models using common supervised learning requires labeled data, and traditional manual labeling is labor-intensive, inconsistent, and time-consuming. This study introduces CH:ALK (Concrete Highlighter: Accelerated Labeling Toolkit), a rapid labeling toolkit designed to produce fast, accurate, and consistent training images for supervised learning of damage segmentation models. CH:ALK integrates automatic labeling (AL) using pre-trained CGNet (Context-Guided Network) and SAM (Segment Anything Model) to label four types of concrete damage: cracks, efflorescence, rebar exposure, and spalling. CH:ALK supports pixel-level AL that can be followed by manual correction via brush tools in an intuitive GUI. Performance validation using 80 images labeled by four users demonstrated an average time reduction of 87.97 %, accuracy of 67.07 % (mIoU), and inter-user consistency of 78.44 %, compared with traditional manual labeling (ML). Furthermore, two segmentation models, CGNet and DeepLabV3+, trained with AL data showed comparable performance to those trained with ML data. CH:ALK offers a scalable solution for developing high-quality labeled datasets for civil infrastructure inspection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104010"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hui Dong , Rui Zhong , Qingshan Wang , Tao Liu , Long Yu
{"title":"Stochastic vibration mechanisms in irregular coupled plate of supersonic porous functionally graded materials with temperature gradients","authors":"Hui Dong , Rui Zhong , Qingshan Wang , Tao Liu , Long Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The porous irregular functional gradient material (FGM) coupled plates, composed of two arbitrary quadrilateral plates coupled at any angle, are widely used in aerospace applications and equipment such as hypersonic vehicles. This paper investigates the stochastic response mechanisms of the porous irregular FGM coupled plate under aerothermal environments and base acceleration excitations. Three typical geometric models are established to validate the universality of the present method. The equations derived from supersonic piston theory and Mindlin plate theory incorporate temperature-dependent material properties. Subplate displacements are approximated using the first-kind Chebyshev polynomials, with irregular domain integrals resolved through coordinate transformations. Sufficient comparisons with the finite element method (FEM) and published literature confirm the accuracy and computational efficiency of this approach. The resulting systematic framework enables stochastic response analysis in analogous complex structures. Numerical discussions are conducted to analyze the effects of FGM gradient <em>p</em>, porosity <em>ζ</em>, coupling angle <em>θ</em>, boundary conditions, and temperature variations Δ<em>T</em> on the stochastic response, establishing practical tools for optimizing and conducting rapid integrity assessment of such structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 104002"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Slavomir Hrcek , Robert Kohar , Frantisek Brumercik , Daniel Kozarik , Jan Steininger , Witold Glowacz , Zhixiong Li
{"title":"Proposed methodology for determining the optimal preload of rolling bearings","authors":"Slavomir Hrcek , Robert Kohar , Frantisek Brumercik , Daniel Kozarik , Jan Steininger , Witold Glowacz , Zhixiong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.104000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rolling bearings are key components in various mechanical systems, where their proper preload ensures optimal operational performance, enhances bearing life, and minimises wear. Inadequate preload adjustment or improper clearance settings in bearings can lead to increased wear and premature failure, adversely affecting the overall reliability and efficiency of machinery. This study aims to develop a methodology for determining the optimal preload of rolling bearings, tailored to the load conditions and duty cycles of a selected structural node - in this case, the gearbox of a railway vehicle's drive unit. The proposed methodology considers the effects of preload on contact pressure, fatigue life, and the dynamic behaviour of bearings, drawing upon insights from previous studies and experimental findings. By implementing this methodology, the reliability and efficiency of systems in various applications, including high-speed machinery, automotive components, and wind turbines, can be significantly improved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 104000"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xinming Li, Bowen Ji, Zhengdong Huang, Kuan Fan, Yuechen Hu, Jiachen Luo
{"title":"Tensorized computational framework for stiffness matrix and its application to buckling optimization of multi-patch laminated shells via isogeometric analysis","authors":"Xinming Li, Bowen Ji, Zhengdong Huang, Kuan Fan, Yuechen Hu, Jiachen Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.103998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.103998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The computational efficiency of stiffness matrix is commonly recognized as one of the primary challenges in mechanical analysis and optimization problems. In this paper, a tensorized framework is proposed to enhance the efficiency of stiffness matrix evaluations. The approach is validated through its application to isogeometric buckling optimization of laminated composite shells. Specifically, a matrix-oriented tensor multiplication (MOTM) is employed to facilitate parallel computation. Tensorized formulations for both stiffness matrix computation and sensitivity analysis are derived. Moreover, a comprehensive complexity analysis comparing the tensorized algorithm with conventional sequential algorithm is presented. Numerical examples illustrate that the proposed tensorized approach achieves a one-order-of-magnitude improvement in efficiency for stiffness matrix evaluations and a two-order-of-magnitude enhancement for sensitivity computations. Furthermore, this paper examines the elastic bound of lamination parameters (LPs), which are related to the positive definiteness of the elastic matrix. An artificial neural network (ANN) is integrated into the optimization process to enforce the elastic bound, thereby significantly reducing the number of indefinite elastic matrices at quadrature points.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 103998"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bangde Liu , Su Tian , Xin Liu , Frank Leone , Wenbin Yu
{"title":"Design tool for tow-steered composite laminates in Abaqus and MSC.Patran/Nastran","authors":"Bangde Liu , Su Tian , Xin Liu , Frank Leone , Wenbin Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.103997","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.advengsoft.2025.103997","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tow-steered composites with curvilinear fiber paths offer enhanced mechanical performance in lightweight structures. However, the absence of commercial design tools for tow-steered composite structures limits innovation in their design for real-world applications. This paper introduces a user-friendly Design tool for Advanced Tailorable Composites (DATC), providing an integrated design framework in two widely used commercial finite element (FE) software packages, Abaqus and MSC.Patran/Nastran. DATC offers a graphical user interface (GUI) to connect multiscale plate modeling, FE modeling, machine learning (ML) modeling, and design optimization. The GUI streamlines the design process by managing all design configurations and interacting with several external codes. The multiscale modeling code SwiftComp calculates effective plate stiffness based on the steering fiber angles. The ML module trains efficient surrogate models as an alternative to FE models to reduce computational costs. The optimization module employs the open-source code Dakota to iteratively perform FE analysis with updated design variables, multiscale plate modeling, and optimization. The paper demonstrates the user-friendliness and adaptability of DATC through three case studies of tow-steered composite structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50866,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Engineering Software","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 103997"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}