Effective reformulations of the truss topology design problem

Michal Kocvara (kocvaraam.uni-erlangen.de)
Jiri V. Outrata (outratautia.cas.cz)

Abstract: We present a new formulation of the truss topology problem that results in unique design and unique displacements of the optimal truss. This is reached by adding an upper level to the original optimization problem and formulating the new problem as an MPCC (Mathematical Program with Complementarity Constraints). We derive optimality conditions for this problem and present several techniques for its numerical solution. Finally, we compare two of these techniques on a series of numerical examples.

Keywords: MPEC, truss topology problem

Category 1: Applications -- Science and Engineering (Mechanical Engineering )

Category 2: Complementarity and Variational Inequalities

Category 3: Nonlinear Optimization (Other )

Citation: IMA Preprint 1917, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, March 2003

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Entry Submitted: 03/30/2003
Entry Accepted: 03/30/2003
Entry Last Modified: 03/30/2003

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