Continuous Optimization in Aerospace Structures

Abstract

In structural design optimization, engineers and designers aim to obtain more efficient designs with regards to weight, stiffness and frequency measures, for a given set of design variables. These design variables can be of different type: material properties, geometric variables, etc. Hence, depending on the design variables that are chosen, different techniques such as topology, shape and sizing optimization have been introduced. This paper presents a brief introduction to the topic in their continuous and corresponding discrete formulation based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). Basic concepts of the advanced technologies that are involved in a typical structural design progress are also included, such as: modeling analysis using the FEM, mesh generation/adaptivity, and error estimation. Illustrative examples of numerical instabilities in the FE solution, shape and topology optimization, and fully integrate design optimization processes are also presented.