2. Introduction to structural optimization

2.1 Introduction

Optimal structural design has been the subject of keen interest for many years. Although it is still not sufficiently applied to traditional design office techniques, it is gradually being integrated into them as its reliability increases. Starting with the simplest problems, the scope of structural optimization today extends to new and ever more interesting challenges.

Numerical simulation for the calculation of mechanical structures has undergone many changes in recent years, thanks to advances in scientific computing, the development of computers and their growth in both processing speed and the quality of information managed. Engineers now have a wide range of methods at their disposal, supported by computer tools such as the finite element...