Design of optimum structures

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Abstract

A method for optimal design of structures is presented. It is based on an energy criteria and a search procedure for design of structures subjected to static loading. The method can handle very efficiently, (a) design for multiple loading conditions, (b) stress constraints, (c) constraints on displacements, (d) constraints on sizes of the elements. Examples of bar and beam structures are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the method. Some of these examples are compared with the designs obtained by linear and nonlinear programming methods. The method is extremely efficient in obtaining minimum weight structures and in a small fraction of the computer time required by linear and nonlinear programming methods.

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    The overarching aims of the study are twofold: first, introducing a novel SO tool for pursuing minimum-weight design of MBS subjected to natural frequency constraints; and second, comparing the self-weight of two optimally designed structural systems (i.e., MBS versus MRF) required to achieve a prescribed target frequency, hence gauging the steel consumption of MBS compared to MRFs within an optimal context. The continuous SO of both structures is achieved by a novel OC sizing algorithm; the latter is proven to be computationally more efficient (in terms of convergence speed) than the conventional OC methods based on the uniform strain energy density criterion (cf., [23,35–38]), which may become erratic for eigenvalue-constrained problems [39]. The sizing process is expedited by a high-quality estimating technique for efficient gradient analysis of design constraints, such that the proposed sizing algorithm can handle large design problems at a low computational cost.

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Presented at the Conference on Computer Oriented Analysis of Shell Structures, 10–14 August 1970 Palo Alto, California.

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