# Individual Design Feasible (IDF)¶

Next, we will look at how to set up the Individual Design Feasible (IDF) architecture for the Sellar problem. In IDF, the direct coupling between the disciplines is removed, and the input coupling variables are added to the optimizer’s design variables. The algorithm calls for two new equality constraints that enforce the coupling between the disciplines. This ensures that the solution is a feasible coupling, though it is achieved through the optimizer’s additional effort instead of a solver. The data flow for IDF is illustrated in the following diagram:

Data Flow for IDF

IDF needs only one driver, so there is just one workflow where the two disciplines are executed sequentially. From the perspective of the iteration hierarchy, IDF is extremely simple.

Iteration Hierarchy for IDF

To implement IDF, we create the SellarIDF assembly. First, all of our components are instantiated and the workflow is defined.

from openmdao.main.api import Assembly, set_as_top
from openmdao.lib.drivers.api import SLSQPdriver

from openmdao.lib.optproblems import sellar

class SellarIDF(Assembly):
""" Optimization of the Sellar problem using IDF"""

def configure(self):
""" Creates a new Assembly with this problem

Optimal Design at (1.9776, 0, 0)

Optimal Objective = 3.18339"""

# create Optimizer instance

# Disciplines

# Driver process definition


That’s all it takes to set up the workflow for IDF. All that is left to do is set up the optimizer. In the code below, pay attention to how we handle the global design variables z1 and z2. We set them up the same way we did for the MDF architecture. However, unlike the MDF, the coupling variables are also included as optimizer parameters.

# Optimization parameters
self.driver.add_objective('(dis1.x1)**2 + dis1.z2 + dis1.y1 + math.exp(-dis2.y2)')

#Global Design Variables
self.driver.add_parameter(('dis1.z1','dis2.z1'), low = -10.0, high=10.0)
self.driver.add_parameter(('dis1.z2','dis2.z2'), low = 0.0,   high=10.0)

#Local Design Variables and Coupling Variables
self.driver.add_parameter('dis1.x1',      low = 0.0,   high=10.0)
self.driver.add_parameter('dis2.y1',      low = -1e99, high=1e99)
self.driver.add_parameter('dis1.y2',      low = -1e99, high=1e99)

self.driver.iprint = 0


Technically, IDF requires the use of equality constraints to enforce coupling between the disciplines. Not all optimizers support explicit equality constraints, so we have to fall back on a trick where we replace it with an equivalent pair of inequality constraints. For example, if we want to constrain x=2, we could constraint x<=2 and x>=2 and let the optimizer converge to a solution where both constraints are active. Or we could condense that to a single constraint of (x-2)**2<=0. SLSQP is a sequential quadratic programming algorithm that actually does support equality constraints, but we’ve left the inequality forms in there to make it easier to try other optimziers if you want to.

By the way, you might consider trying a fancier solution such as constraining abs(dis2.y1-dis1.y1)<=0. Be careful though, because this nonlinear constraint has a discontinuous slope which can make it very hard for some optimizers to converge. Use the squared form of the constraint, as we did in our sample code, instead.

When we put it all together, we get sellar_IDF.py. Once again, we added a small amount of code at the end to execute and then print the results of the IDF optimization.

from openmdao.main.api import Assembly
from openmdao.lib.drivers.api import SLSQPdriver

from openmdao.lib.optproblems import sellar

class SellarIDF(Assembly):
""" Optimization of the Sellar problem using IDF"""

def configure(self):
""" Creates a new Assembly with this problem

Optimal Design at (1.9776, 0, 0)

Optimal Objective = 3.18339"""

# create Optimizer instance

# Disciplines

# Driver process definition

# Optimization parameters
self.driver.add_objective('(dis1.x1)**2 + dis1.z2 + dis1.y1 + math.exp(-dis2.y2)')

#Global Design Variables
self.driver.add_parameter(('dis1.z1','dis2.z1'), low = -10.0, high=10.0)
self.driver.add_parameter(('dis1.z2','dis2.z2'), low = 0.0,   high=10.0)

#Local Design Variables and Coupling Variables
self.driver.add_parameter('dis1.x1',      low = 0.0,   high=10.0)
self.driver.add_parameter('dis2.y1',      low = -1e99,  high=1e99)
self.driver.add_parameter('dis1.y2',      low = -1e99, high=1e99)

self.driver.iprint = 0

if __name__ == "__main__":
import time

prob = SellarIDF()

# pylint: disable-msg=E1101

prob.dis1.z1 = prob.dis2.z1 = 5.0
prob.dis1.z2 = prob.dis2.z2 = 2.0
prob.dis1.x1 = 1.0
prob.dis2.y1 = 3.16

tt = time.time()
prob.run()

print "\n"
print "Minimum found at (%f, %f, %f)" % (prob.dis1.z1, \
prob.dis2.z2, \
prob.dis1.x1)
print "Couping vars: %f, %f" % (prob.dis1.y1, prob.dis2.y2)
print "Minimum objective: ", prob.driver.eval_objective()
print "Elapsed time: ", time.time()-tt, "seconds"


Executing this at the command line should produce output that resembles this:

\$ python sellar_IDF.py
Minimum found at (1.976427, 0.000000, 0.000000)
Couping vars: 3.159994, 3.755276
Minimum objective:  3.18022323743
Elapsed time:  0.200541973114 seconds

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