Design exploration: extending the bounds of the search space

It is during conceptual design that neither the problem space nor solution space is fixed and the designers aim is an exploration of a range of possible problem-solution scenarios. Within such a framework the constraints placed upon the initial limits assigned to the design variables are subject to change. Thus this paper presents a multi-population GA approach that allows the search to move outside of its pre-defined limits. Utilising dynamic fitness sharing and directional search techniques sub-populations are encouraged to explore differing high performance and unspecified areas of the search space