APPROXIMATION METHOD FOR CONFIGURATION OPTIMIZATION OF TRUSSES

An efficient method for truss configuration optimization is presented. Elastic trusses are designed for minimum weight by varying the areas of the members and the location of the joints. Constraints on member stresses and Euler buckling are imposed, and multiple loading conditions are considered. The method presented here utilizes an approximate structural analysis based on first-order Taylor series expansions of the member forces. The force approximation succeeds in reducing the degree of coupling between the sizing and geometry design variables and thereby increases the accuracy of the approximation. A numerical optimizer uses information from the approximate structural analysis as it minimizes the weight of the truss. © 1990 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., All rights reserved.