Optimization is a mathematical procedure for minimizing  or maximizing a function of independent variables subject to constraints on other functions or the variables themselves.

In mechanical design, these functions are measures of goodness of the design such as safety, efficiency or serviceability and depend on a set of changeable parameters. Optimization is usually applied to responses as produced by mathematical models, e.g. finite element models. During the optimization process the parameters are systematically changed using an algorithm.

There are two basic areas of application of optimization in Mechanical Design:

1. Optimal Design. This is a procedure whereby a mechanical design is optimized with the purpose of achieving the best performance. Various types of parameters can be changed namely sizes (such as thickness), shape or material properties. An example is the optimization of structural measurements of a vehicle frame for the purpose of achieving maximal crashworthiness.

2. System identification. This is a procedure whereby unknown properties of a system are identified using experimental response data. A typical objective is to minimize the discrepancy between the responses of the model and those of the experiments. For instance, material parameters of a sample can be determined from  acceleration or force measurements during impact.

Livermore Software Technology Corporation's LS-Opt allows the user to structure the design process, explore the design space and compute optimal designs according to specified constraints and objectives.  LS-OPT is included with LS-DYNA and LS-PrePost at no additional fees.