A practical method for the optimal design of web frame structure by FEM is presented. In this method FEM is used not only to analyze the structure but also to obtain the sensitivity of design variables to active constraints.
This method is particularly effective for the problems whose design variables include both the size and geometrical configuration, as it uses the FEM program for the computation of derivatives of constraint functions instead of analytical calculation. Then the derivatives of constraint functions are used to find usuable, and feasible direction. For the practical purpose, the web frame structure is divided into several parts of same size, and so the number of calculation by FEM is to decrease.
The results show its efficiency and applicability on such problems that use large plate element whose configuration can be changed.
