Design of framed structures: an integrated non-linear analysis and optimal minimum weight design

The aim of this paper is to develop a structural optimization algorithm based on optimality criterion approach to achieve a minimum weight structure that satisÞes a set of displacement constraints. Optimal designs are found considering both linear and non-linear behaviour of the structure and compared through an example problem. Many algorithms have been developed to determine the optimal minimum weight design of framed structures under a set of displacement constraints; however, in almost all of them linear analyses are performed. This paper shows how the non-linear analysis will e¤ect the optimal design of a structure