Topology Design Methods For Structural Optimization

In recent decades, it has become possible to turn the design process into computer algorithms. By applying different computer oriented methods the topology and shape of structures can be optimized and thus designs systematically improved. These possibilities have stimulated an interest in the mathematical foundations of structural optimization. The challenge of this book is to bridge a gap between a rigorous mathematical approach to variational problems and the practical use of algorithms of structural optimization in engineering applications. The foundations of structural optimization are presented in a sufficiently simple form to make them available for practical use and to allow their critical appraisal for improving and adapting these results to specific models. Special attention is to pay to the description of optimal structures of composites; to deal with this problem, novel mathematical methods of nonconvex calculus of variation are developed. The exposition is accompanied by examples.

In recent decades, it has become possible to turn the design process into computer algorithms. By applying different computer oriented methods the topology and shape of structures can be optimized and thus designs systematically improved. These possibilities have stimulated an interest in the mathematical foundations of structural optimization. The challenge of this book is to bridge a gap between a rigorous mathematical approach to variational problems and the practical use of algorithms of structural optimization in engineering applications. The foundations of structural optimization are presented in a sufficiently simple form to make them available for practical use and to allow their critical appraisal for improving and adapting these results to specific models. Special attention is to pay to the description of optimal structures of composites; to deal with this problem, novel mathematical methods of nonconvex calculus of variation are developed. The exposition is accompanied by examples.

This book contains the edited version of lectures and contributed papers presented at the NA TO ADV ANCED RESEARCH WORKSHOP ON TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION OF STRUCTURES, held at Hotel do Mar, Sesimbra, Portugal, 20 June to 26 June, 1992, and organised by the Mathematical Institutc, The Technical University of Denmark and bv CEMUL-Center of Mechanics and Materials of the Techmcal University of Lisbon, Fifty participants from' fourteen countries attended the workshop,

* Featuring a foreword by Pritzker Prize Winner Shigeru Ban *
Bringing together experts from research and practice, Shell Structures for Architecture: Form Finding and Optimization presents contemporary design methods for shell and gridshell structures, covering form-finding and structural optimization techniques.

This book provides a comprehensive study of structural design and optimization of different truss structures for size, shape, and topology of structure. It describes truss optimization based on into three categories: size optimization, shape optimization, and topology optimization.

Bringing together experts from research and practice, Shell Structures for Architecture: Form Finding and Optimization presents contemporary design methods for shell and gridshell structures, covering form-finding and structural optimization techniques.