A Technique to Obtain an Optimum Layout of Truss Structures by the Finite Element Method : Minimum Weight Design of Structural Continua

抄録

A technique to obtain an optimum layout of structural continua which gives minimum weight design is proposed by using the finite element method (FEM). In this FEM, the triangular elements of structural continua consist of orthogonally crossing members distributing uniformly and continuously. To arrange these members in the optimum directions, Davidon-Fletcher-Powell's method is adopted and the weight of the structural continua is minimized. The optimum layout of the frameworks is determined from the arrangement of the truss members in the finite element. The technique is applied to determine the Michell structures and the results are compared with the absolute optima.