Elsevier

Computers & Structures

Volume 66, Issue 1, January 1998, Pages 69-77
Computers & Structures

Simultaneous optimization of topology and geometry of a regular plane truss

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-7949(97)00050-3Get rights and content

Abstract

An algorithm is presented for simultaneous optimization of geometry and topology of a regular plane truss with uniform cross-sectional area. Difficulties arising from singularity and discontinuity in eliminating unnecessary members and nodes from the ground structure are discussed in detail by using a cantilever-type plane truss. Note that the optimization problem becomes more complicated by limiting the feasible designs to regular trusses with uniform cross-sectional areas. In the proposed method, a pin-jointed truss is first modeled as a rigidly jointed frame. A sigmoid function is used for modeling continuous transition between frames with different topologies. In this manner, coalescent nodes and members are successfully removed from the initial ground structure. In the examples, optimal solutions are found for a rectangular plane truss which consists of rectangular units, and the effect of nodal cost on the optimal topology is discussed.

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