Multi-objective optimisation of an aerostatic pad: design of position, number and diameter of the supply holes

In this paper, a rectangular aerostatic bearing with multiple supply holes is optimised with a multi-objective optimisation approach. The design variables taken into account are the supply holes position, their number and diameter, the supply pressure, while the objective functions are the load capacity, the air consumption and the stiffness and damping coefficients. A genetic algorithm is applied in order to find the Pareto set of solutions. The novelty with respect to other optimisations which can be found in literature is that number and location of the supply holes is completely free and not associated to a pre-defined scheme. A vector x associated with the supply holes location is introduced in the design parameters and given in input to the optimizer.