Automatic design of optimal structures

Abstract

The design of optimal structures is reduced to selection, by mathematical programming, of structure which optimizes criterion of merit over large, well-defined class of admissible structures; detailed analysis of mathematical optimization problem is carried out for pin-jointed structures, with determination of not only sizes of members but their location as well; some properties of optimal structures are derived and discussed, and ideas are illustrated by design of series of optimal bridge trusses.