EGM6365 Structural Optimization Project 1

3
1

2 4
p

The project involves the elastic design (for maximum load carrying capacity) and plastic design
for maximum collapse load of the five bar truss shown above where there are only two area
design variables

A=
13 A=
24 A=
34 A1 , A=
14 A=
23 A2

All bars are made of the same material and the compressive strength and tensional strength are
equal as σ=
C σ=
T σ 0 . The equations of equilibrium are:

2 2
n13 + n23= 0, n24 + n14= 0
2 2
2 2
n34 + n23= 0, n34 + n14 = p
2 2

The yield constraints are

− A13σ 0 ≤ n13 ≤ A13σ 0 − A23σ 0 ≤ n23 ≤ A23σ 0

− A14σ 0 ≤ n14 ≤ A14σ 0 − A24σ 0 ≤ n24 ≤ A24σ 0
− A34σ 0 ≤ n34 ≤ A34σ 0

The member forces in the elastic range can be calculated analytically and are given as
 2 2
n13 =− n23 n24 =− p − n23
2 2
2
n34 =
− n23 n14 = 2 p + n23
2

n23 = α p α= −
(
2 A2 + 2 2 A1 )
(3A + 4
2 2 A1 )

1. Formulate the limit analysis problem of finding the plastic collapse load of the truss with
non-dimensional loads. Use σ 0 A1 to normalize the loads, and r = A2 / A1 for yield
constraints involving A2. Solve the problem for r=0.5 with MATLAB linprog function.
Express the member forces in terms of A1, A2, and σ 0 .
2. Formulate the limit design problem of maximizing the plastic collapse load for a given
material volume V. This time, use A=V/L as the normalizing area. Note that
V
= A13 + A24 + A34 + 2 ( A14 + A23 ) = 3 A1 + 2 2 A2 = A
L
p
So you will be maximizing P = with the design variables being the two non-
Aσ 0
dimensional areas and the non-dimensional load and member areas.
3. Solve with linprog and provide the optimum collapse load, optimum areas, and the
corresponding member loads in terms of V,L and σ 0 .

4. Verify the solution of Problem 3 by solving the problem graphically, by plotting the
collapse load against r.
5. Formulate the problem of maximizing the load the truss can carry elastically as a problem
in two design variables, A1/A and A2/A with a volume constraint. Solve with fminsearch
using a penalty formulation and directly with fmincon. Note that for given areas the load
that can be carried by the truss is the minimum of the five member loads that can be
carried elastically. This minimum is possibly a non-smooth function, and if you prefer,
you can make the load itself as a third design variable and add yield constraints. You buy
smoothness at the cost of more cumbersome formulation.
6. Consider the plastic collapse load and maximum elastic force as two objectives, and
generate the Pareto front of the two.