Solving

 

After the target modes have been assigned for each FEM configuration and the number of accelerometers has been selected push the Solve button. All Seed TAMs[5], if any are selected, will be generated for each FEM configuration and the Genetic Algorithm will begin. Figure 2 shows the GA GUI after a solution has been completed. The top-right plot shows the progression of the minimum cost (best accelerometer set) in blue and the average cost of each generation in red. The cost function used is denoted in the axis title. (The four available cost functions are described in the Cost Function section.)

After completing, the results table in the center of the right panel is updated. This table shows the cost of the lowest member of the first generation (which may include Seed TAMs) and the minimum cost of the Genetic Algorithm-selected DOF set. It also shows the CPU time.

When the GA is complete it can be restarted by pushing the Solve button to continue the GA with the current settings and population. The GA will continue beginning with the last population using the same parameters that have previously been used. If desired, any of the parameters on the Generation ControlTable or the PopulationSize on the Options form can be changed before restarting. Any attempts to change the Total # Accels, target modes or weighting, manually selected DOF, the cost function, or the selection method (single DOF vs. triaxial accelerometers) will results in a warning that changing those setting will cause the GA to be reset. While the GA is running the Stop button becomes enabled to provide a way to interrupt the GA before all generations have been simulated. If GA is stopped the results will be preserved.

If desired another GA checkpoint can be saved after results are available. This allows the user to restart from a previous checkpoint at a later time.