Optimal Material Distribution of a Frame Structure Subjected to a Plastic Deformation : 1st Report, Optimization Algorithm

Abstract

An optimization algorithm of a frame structure subjected to a plastic deformation is presented in this paper. This method is based on the generalized layout optimization method proposed by Bendsφe and Kikuchi in 1988, where a solid-cavity composite material is distributed in an admissible domain and cavity size is determined so that it becomes large in the area where strain energy is small. In the present algorithm, a material is distributed inside frame members so that the external work done by prescribed loads may become minimum. As a result, some regions inside frame members may be hollow while others may be solid.