A Method Reducing the Number of Design Variables

Wu Guanghao,  Wen Yi
(School of Architecture Engineering and Mechanics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049£©

£Ábstract: The paper first analyses the main reason why optimal design for structure has't been widely applied, and then present a method that can greatly reduce the number of design variables and improves the efficiency of structural optimazation. In this paper, the concept of optimal route of load transfer is defined for the first time, and the method how to search for it is presented. Based on the optimal route of load transfer, main and auxiliary part of a structure are defined explicitly, and the status of design variables are defined also. Thus the design variables are classified to three groups. The examples proved the efficiency and reliablity of the presented method.
Keywords: structure, optimazation, design variables.