A computer-based optimization method is presented for the minimum weight design of structural problems under various load conditions using discrete member sections.
The method first finds a continuous optimum. Sequential quadratic programming is adopted to obtain the initial continuous optimum. Then a discrete solution which is near to the continuous optimum and does not violate constraints is determined by selecting the discrete elements. The discrete solution is further improved to obtain the final discrete optimum.
The design method presented here is efficient and iterative in nature. The number of iteration is small and nearly independent of complexity of the structure. Several problems for simple truss and frame structures are presented to show validity and efficiency of the method.
