316 Structural Optimization for the Extruded Aluminum Material

Abstract

This paper studies the topological optimization of cantilevered beam-type, extruded aluminum structures subjected to various loadings by genetic algorithm. In optimization, maximum deflection of the structure is minimized under the constraint condition, where total number of ribs within the structure is kept to be constant, by selecting the locations of ribs. The deflection of the structure is evaluated by using the finite element program developed for two-dimensional elasticity in this study. In numerical calculations optimal design solutions are obtained for the structures subjected to bending, shearing and stretching loadings.