Abstract
The paper addresses the problem of the optimization of the structures that, when perfect, are apt to lose stability by bifurcation and have symmetric bifurcation points.
Unlike the typical treatment of the problem, the paper suggests an optimization approach that takes into account the sensitivity of the structure to imperfections.
Two different ways of accounting for imperfection sensitivity are presented. In the first one, the structure is treated as perfect and the objective function (load factor subjected to maximization) in formed on the basis of post-buckling analysis. In the second formulation, the structure is considered as impaired by imperfections and the objective function is established on the basis of a nonlinear static analysis of the structure.
Both formulations are illustrated by simple examples.
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Pietrzak, J. An alternative approach to optimization of structures prone to instability. Structural Optimization 11, 88–94 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01376849
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01376849