Optimization and Systems Theory Seminar
Friday, February 21, 2003, 11.00-12.00, Room 3721, Lindstedtsv. 25


Mathias Stolpe
Division of Optimization and Systems Theory
Department of Mathematics
KTH
E-mail: stolpe@math.kth.se

Topology optimization of truss structures

This talk gives an overview of the results presented in the first four papers included in my thesis. To begin with, an introduction to topology optimization is given. Thereafter, we present different equivalent ways of representing the nonconvex problem of minimizing the weight of a truss structure subject to stress constraints. For example, it is shown that if the structure is subjected to only one external load the problem can equivalently be cast as a linear program and thus efficiently be solved to global optimality.

Finally, a convergent continuous branch-and-cut method for global optimization of minimum weight problems with stress and displacement constraints is presented. The valid inequalities (cuts) which strengthen the problem formulation are generated by solving well-defined convex optimization problems, which are obtained when the displacement and stress constraints are relaxed. Computational results on a large set of problems taken from the literature are presented. Most of these problems are solved with a proof of global optimality for the first time.


Calendar of seminars
Last update: February 13, 2003 by Anders Forsgren, anders.forsgren@math.kth.se.