Author(s)

R. Reitinger & E. Ramm

Abstract

Optimization of geometrically nonlinear buckling sensitive structures R. Reitinger, E. Ramm Institut jur Baustatik, Universitdt Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 1, D-7000 Stuttgart 80, Germany ABSTRACT The optimal design of structures with distinctly geometrically nonlinear behav- ior has attracted a great deal of interest in the last years mainly with respect to sizing for prescribed external loads. In this contribution a method is proposed to maximize the critical load under certain constraints, e.g. for a given volume, allowing varying shape as well as cross sections. The combination of direct computation of the critical load and path-following methods is integrated into a general optimization procedure consisting of mathematical programming techniques, sensitivity analysis and com- puter aided geometric design methods. The formulation includes imperfection sensi- tivity as an important part within the optimization process. 1. INTRODUCTION A common objective in o

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