A new approach to optimal design of elastic structures

Abstract A new approach to the optimization of elastic trusses under stress constraints is discussed. The stress constraints are transformed into compliance constraints, which makes possible the derivation of a simple optimality condition. The condition provides a simple test to check whether a fully stressed design is optimal, for single as well as multiple loading conditions. It is readily extended to optimization problems, in which both stress and displacement constraints are imposed. An iterative routine, that is both simple and efficient, is derived from the optimality condition. Numerical examples of the application of the routine are presented.