MS6012 Deisgn Methodology & Optimization Dharmestha Dewantoro (23120322)

Task-1

Parameter Description
Subject Pneumatic Cylinder
Case Introduction A pneumatic cylinder is required to move an object, weighing 1000 kg,
horizontally with a travel distance of 555 mm in 5 seconds. The required
force that has to be exterted from the cylinder is 832.5 N.

The maximum allowable pressure of a commercial pneumatic cylinder

(SMC, Festo, etc.) can obtain is 0.8 MPa.

In compliance with available space in the system, pneumatic cylinder’s

maximum outer diameter is 150 mm. The size of pneumatic cylinder’s
flanges and casing is around 25 mm radially. Therefore, the maximum piston
diameter is 100 mm.

Task Optimization task of this pneumatic cylinder is to minimize the air flow rate
to operate the pneumatic cylinder, Q (m3/s), which can be calculated by this
equation [SMC Product Sizing].
𝜋 2 𝑝 + 0.1
4 𝐷 . 𝐿. ( 0.1 ) 10−6
𝑄=
∆𝑡
𝑝 = inlet pressure (MPa)
𝐷 = piston diameter (mm)
𝐿 = stroke length (mm)
∆𝑡 = stroking time (s)

Another equation that correlates inlet pressure (𝑝) and piston diameter (D)
is the force equation below:
𝜋𝐷 2 . 𝑝. 𝜂
𝐹=
4
Efficiency of pneumatic cylinder (𝜂) is assumed to be 0.7.
From the design requirements, stroke length (𝐿) has to be exaclty 555 mm,
the movement has to be completed in ∆𝑡 = 5 seconds.
MS6012 Deisgn Methodology & Optimization Dharmestha Dewantoro (23120322)

Objective Function The objective function of this optimization is:

and 𝜋 2 𝑝 + 0.1
4 𝐷 (555) ( 0.1 ) 10−6
Design Variables 𝑄(𝐷, 𝑝) =
5

The design variables of the optimization are:

𝑝 = inlet pressure (MPa)
𝐷 = piston diameter (mm)

Constrains Based upon the available items on the market and system requirements, it
can be determined that:
𝐹 ≥ 𝐹𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑝 ≤ 𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐷 ≤ 𝐷𝑚𝑎𝑥

The limiting values of force, pressure, and diameter are:

𝐹𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 832.5 N
𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.8 MPa
𝐷𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 100 mm

Therefore, the constrains which limit the design variables are defined as:
𝐹𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑔1 (𝑝, 𝐷) = −1 ≤0
𝐹
𝑝
𝑔2 (𝑝) = −1 ≤0
𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐷
𝑔3 (𝐷) = −1 ≤0
𝐷𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑔4 (𝑝) = 𝑝 ≥ 10−6
𝑔5 (𝐷) = 𝐷 ≥ 10−6