Topology Optimization of Plane Trusses Employing the Progressive Directional Selection Method.

Resumo

More and more, inspiration is sought from nature to solve complex problems in modern society.
Whether observing the morphological characteristics of animals and plants or even the behavior of living beings
in the environment they live. The naturalist Charles Darwin studied this behavior in depth and proposed a theory
that explains how life became what it is today, the Theory of Natural Selection. The theory of natural selection of
the directional type inspires the topological optimization method proposed in this work. The Progressive
Directional Selection (PDS) method seeks to optimize a structure by selecting the parts that contribute the most to
support the mechanical loads and eliminating the parts that contribute the least in different stages of removal.
Numerical applications of PDS were performed in two-dimensional truss structures, starting from a ground
structure. The matrix analysis of plane trusses and the direct stiffness method are employed to analyze the plane
truss in the linear regime. The obtained optimal topologies are structurally stable and efficient and very similar to
the results of other topological optimization techniques presented in the literature. The results demonstrate that
this method can be employed for the topological optimization of two-dimensional trusses.