OPTIMAL-DESIGN OF TRUSSES WITH ACCOUNT FOR TOPOLOGY VARIATION

In this paper, a heuristic algorithm is presented for optimal design o f trusses with varying cross-sectional parameters, configuration of no des, and number of nodes and bars. The algorithm provides new nodes an d bars at some states and for the optimal truss configuration. It is a ssumed that the structure evolves with the overall size parameter and a ''bifurcation'' of topology occurs with the generation of new nodes, in order to minimize the cost function. Both displacement and stress constraints can be introduced in the optimization procedure.