Design of Cable Supported Bridges Using Topology Optimization

摘要

This paper presents the current state of the research on conceptual design of cable supported bridges and other tensile structures with methods of structural optimization. For this scope of application an enhancement of the conventional methods was needed in order to achieve only tension members as the result of optimization. A modified optimality criteria algorithm was therefore implemented in an open source finite element analysis program for 2D-problems. Selected examples illustrate how this method can be used both in bridge design and generally to generate structures appropriate for the material involved.