EXTENDED EXACT-SOLUTIONS FOR LEAST-WEIGHT TRUSS LAYOUTS .1. CANTILEVER WITH A HORIZONTAL-AXIS OF SYMMETRY

The paper deals with new applications of Michell's theory for determin ing the layout of least-weight trusses under a single load condition a nd the same permissible stress for all bars, Considering cantilever tr usses with a horizontal axis of symmetry, the optimal layout was deriv ed in a closed analytical form by A. S. L. Chan and H. S. Y. Chan for a limited length: height ratio. Solutions beyond the above ratio are i nvestigated in this paper. The results will be extended to non-symmetr ic cantilever trusses in Part II of this study. In both parts, a novel method is used for deriving adjoint displacements. The results are al so confirmed by comparisons with discretized solutions for trusses and perforated plates.