Journals Proceedings

Abstract

This paper presents evolutionary-based leastweight optimization procedure for designing truss structures. A modified version of Genetic Algorithm with Domain Trimming (GADT) is developed and presented herein. The DADT is used for solving the nonlinear constrained optimization problems. In this optimum design formulation, the objective function is the material weight of the truss; the design variables are the crosssections of the truss members; the constraints are the stresses in members and the displacements of the joints. The constraints were handled using non-stationary dynamically modified penalty functions. One classical truss optimization example is presented herein to demonstrate the efficiency of the GADT algorithm. The test problem includes a 10-bar planar truss subjected to a given load condition. The result shows that the GADT method is very efficient in finding the best discovered optimal solutions, which are better of the results of other structural optimization methods.