A new object-oriented method is proposed for the optimum design of discrete structures being subjected to various local and global constraints. The method uses an element-based information and procedures instead of the global ones such as a global stiffness matrix and calculating of the inverse of a matrix. The principle of the method is that each element is able to evaluate its resource margins with respect to vaious local and global constraints, and the element reduce its resource based on the minimum of those resource margins. This simple procedure is used iteratively to obtain an optimum solution. It is found from several numerical experiments that the proposed method is effective for the optimum design of discrete structures such as trusses.
展开▼
