This paper outlines a nonlinear programming approach to designing induction motors. The author formulates the problem as a constrained optimization problem where both explicit and implicit variables are constrained. The constrained optimization due to Box [1] is used, which handles constraints explicitly.

The author then illustrates the optimization method through a flowchart, presents the design parameters used in induction motor design, and identifies the optimization objective function and constraints in terms of these design parameters. Results are given for the design of a small HP induction motor with one and two parallel paths. As might be expected, there is only a minor improvement in the optimum design of a small HP induction motor over a typical design.