An evolutionary approach to elastic contact optimization of frame structures

Many real structures are made up of trusses and beams as are their computational models. It may be important to the designer to consider such structures to be in contact and if so, then to ensure that such contact does not produce high localized stress. This study is concerned with such an issue in truss/beam structures involving a unilateral contact constraints. In this paper, the evolutionary structural optimization method is verified for the design of planar or three-dimensional structures that consist of truss or beam elements. An elastic frame in contact with a rigid foundation and two elastic frames in contact with either two or three-dimensional structures have been studied. Since the truss and beam elements provide different structural responses, the difference of optimal frame designs between these two element types is also investigated in this paper. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.