Design optimisation using the BEM coupled with genetic algorithm

Presents optimisation in electrostatics using the boundary element method (BEM) coupled with a genetic algorithm (GA). In the first part, the boundary element method is briefly introduced. This method is a powerful tool which is characterised by very high accuracy, only the boundaries of the investigated domain must be discretised. In the second part, the genetic algorithm to solve the optimisation problems is described. The third part is dedicated to explain the way the two methods are coupled together. Finally, the fourth part provides two analytical examples to illustrate the GA in actual terms and an insulator is optimised to illustrate the solution of a real problem