Abstract
'Tiling' is one of the classic themes of geometry, which is also referred to as 'tessellation'. In this study, we deal with an engineering optimization problem of tiling, that is, the problem of filling an arbitrary-shaped region with tiles. In contrast to the mathematical tiling or tessellation, the joint part between tiles and the cutting of tiles for shaping are taken into account. A general formulation of the problem and its specific case of a practical problem are developed. The approach discussed in this article is not elegant from the theoretical or mathematical viewpoint; however, the obtained optimal tiling examples well demonstrate the significance of this type of primitive engineering optimization approach.