MBB-LAGRANGE: A GENERAL STRUCTURAL RELIABILITY AND OPTIMIZATION STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

MBB-LAGRANGE is a program system which allows the optimization of general structural systems. The geometry and properties of these structures are idealized by a finite element model with isotropic, orthotropic, anisotropic and composite materials. The design variables and a variety of constraints characterize the optimization model. The design variables are element thicknesses, cross sections, concentrated masses and fibre angles. The design can be restricted with respect to statics (e.g. stresses, displacements), dynamics (natural frequencies, dynamic response) and aeroelastics (effiencies, flutter speed). In general the aim is to minimize the structure weight subject to the constraints. But often it is necessary to get only a feasible design. The highlights of the program system are (1) simultaneous optimization, (2) a wide range of mathematical programming algorithms, (3) a modular architecture within a CAE-environment. A lot of large scale problems — especially space and aircraft structures — demonstrates the power of MBB-LAGRANGE.