Prof Albert Groenwold currently is Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Structural Mechanics Division of the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Stellenbosch. His fields of interest include structural and multidisciplinary optimization, the development of algorithms for structural and multidisciplinary optimization, and general mathematical modeling.
This includes sequential approximate optimization (SAO), general structural optimization (including topology optimization), the development of algorithms for very large scale (VLS) optimization, high performance (green) computing, parallel computing on both the CPU and GPU, and Sparse Algebra representations.
He is also interested in metaheuristics, in particular particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithms (GAs) and differential evolution (DE); not per se only in applying these algorithms to problems of practical interest, but in analyzing the heuristics themselves (in a probabilistic sense), e.g. the lack of invariance of these algorithm, etc.
In recent years, he started working on simultaneous analysis and design (SAND). Currently, his interests in SAND are mainly focused on algorithms for local stress constraints (including local stresses in layered orthotropic composite structures). This per se necessitates the development of algorithms that can handle equality constraints in settings where the Hessian matrix is indefinite of negative-definite.
Currently, he is studying the development of iterative optimization-based algorithms for singular value decomposition (SVD) and eigenvector extraction. In addition, he also started studying topology-based optimization methodologies for optimal lay-out problems in environmental and sustainability modeling (solar heliostat, and in particular, wind-farm turbine lay-out).
An ongoing interest is global optimization of mostly differentiable functions, but also continuous, non-differentiable functions.
Academic Qualifications
BEng (Mech Eng), University of Pretoria, 1987
BEng Hon (Mech Eng), University of Pretoria, 1990
MEng (Mech Eng), (Cum Laude), University of Pretoria, 1994
PhD (Mech. Eng.), University of Pretoria, 1998
Professional Experience
Jan 2007 - present:
University of Stellenbosch,
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Structural Mechanics Division)
Professor
Jan 2006 – Dec 2006: University of Stellenbosch,
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Structural Mechanics Division)
Associate Professor
Jan 2001 - Dec 2005: University of Pretoria
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Division of Structural Mechanics)
Associate Professor
1998 - 2000: University of Pretoria
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Division of Structural Mechanics)
Senior lecturer
Sept 1996 - May 1997: Denel Aviation
Stress consultant, Rooivalk Stress Office
June 1997 - Dec 1997: Technikon Northern Gauteng, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Researcher
Sept 1996 - May 1997: Denel Aviation
Consultant
Apr 1993 - Aug 1996: University of Pretoria
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Division of Structural Mechanics)
Graduate research assistant
Febr 1992 - March 1993: ESKOM Technology, Research & Investigations
Engineer
Febr 1991 - Jan 1992: University of Pretoria
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Division of Structural Mechanics)
Graduate research assistant
Jan 1990 - Jan 1991: ESKOM Technology, Research & Investigations
Engineer
1989: ESKOM Technology, Research & Investigations
Assistant engineer
1988: ESKOM Tutuka Power Station
Engineer-in-training
Publications
