Open AccessMetaheuristic layout design of a 2 billion euro science facility
Author(s) -
P. Bentley,
Uwe Filges
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of physics communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.407
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2399-6528
DOI - 10.1088/2399-6528/ab8782
Subject(s) - metaheuristic , particle swarm optimization , spallation , genetic algorithm , computer science , coupling (piping) , reduction (mathematics) , mathematical optimization , conceptual design , algorithm , mathematics , neutron , engineering , machine learning , physics , nuclear physics , mechanical engineering , geometry , human–computer interaction
A conceptual design process is described, whereby the layout of a modern, multi-MW spallation neutron source is optimised using metaheuristics. This was achieved by coupling several well-known analytical approximations of positive and negative performance metrics with a genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimisation (PSO). This will be contrasted with a parallel, manual study that was initiated immediately after. Overall, the metaheuristic method converged on superior results, and was generated with an order of magnitude reduction in total labour relative to the manual study. The baseline described in this report has become the real-world layout at the European Spallation Source (ESS), currently under construction in Sweden.