Variational methods and structural optimization

Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
Optimization hinders evolution!
ME256 Variational methods and structural optimization Jan.-May, 2010
Instructor: G. K. Ananthasuresh, Room 106, ME Building, suresh at mecheng.iisc.ernet.in Back to homepage of the course

Homework #8
Assigned: Mar. 23rd, 2010
Due: Apr. 1st, 2010
Points: 50

50 points
Download homework exercise's Matlab files written by Anil Das in 2009 on beam optimization . Now, your task is to modify this programme in the following ways.
- There are two files, viz., beamopt.m (for the fixed-fixed beam) and beamoptCant.m (for the cantilever beam). Now, modify these for other boundary conditions: fixed-guided, and pined-pinned. The generality of the programmes should be retained.
- Impose a constraint on the maximum stress and modify the programme.
  or
  Solve this new probem: within the fixed-fixed beam, we want to embed a rigid block of length "l" (decide this value yourself) anywhere in the beam. By rigid, we assume that it undergoes negligible deformation. Your programme should decide where it should be placed while determining the size of the beam everywhere else.