A structural shape optimization system using the two-dimensional boundary contour method (Q1970760)

The authors present a brief introduction into recently proposed method, named boundary contour method (BCM), and discuss its advantages. By means of a relatively simple algorithm of linear elasticity sensitivity analysis, the original shape optimization problem is reduced to a sequence of mathematical programming problems. The implementation of a structural shape optimization system includes integration of the following modules: BCM, design sensitivity analysis (originated from a boundary integral equation), and nonlinear programming. It is argued that the successive quadratic programming method is well suited to solve nonlinear programming problems of the considered type. Therefore the authors incorporate the corresponding IMSL routine into the implemented system. Two examples (shape optimization of an elastic ring and a fillet) illustrate the performance of the presented shape optimization algorithm.