A study on optimum shape of solids subjected to external loads with the help of strength distribution optimization by rigid-plastic analysis

Abstract

Estimation of optimum shape of solids subjected to external loads in the context of rigid-plastic analysis is investigated in this paper. Instead of solving optimum shape directly, rigid-plastic strength distribution optimization method is used to obtain areas where their material sterengths are zero. Since it is able to constuct a statically admissible stress field without such zero-strength-areas, it can be interpreted that a certain optimum shape can be obtained by removing those zero-strength-areas. To ensure the validity of a proposed method, Bishop's complete stress solution of a punching problem and a numerical solution is compared.