Structural optimisation using analytical equations

Abstract

This is a conference paper and appears here with the permission of the publisher. ; Optimisation of structures requires the minimisation of an objective function subject to a set of constraints. Typically the objective function is mass for mass sensitive structures or cost for heavy engineering projects. However environmental sensitivity can be incorporated without any difficulty. For example in an energy scarce environment energy inputs can be considered as the objective function which can take into account all energy inputs such as material manufacture and structural element forming. Mass and energy are in fact more important considerations than cost. The barrier to this has been shaped by the political world where cost considerations are considered to be of paramount importance.