Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengalur, 560 012, India
"The more you think, the less material you need"
ME260
Structural Optimization: Size, Shape, and Topology
Aug. 2024 to Nov. 2024
Instructor: G. K. Ananthasuresh, Room 106, ME Building, suresh at iisc.ac.in
Teaching assistant: To be decided someone at iisc.ac.in
Lectures: Tu, Th: 08:30 AM - 10:00 AM; Venue: ME MMCR
Course work

This content of the course is divided into three segments:

  1. Structural optimization using finite-variable optimization
  2. Structural optimization in the framework of calculus of variations
  3. Sensitivity analysis; design parameterization and numerical methods for multiphysics optimization problems.
In each segment, there will be approximately 10 lectures. In addition to homeworks and programming assignments, there will be a project and term paper to be submitted at the end of the semester. The project will entail computational work and programming in Matalb. A presentation is required at the end of the semester. The term paper will entail going through a journal paper published after 2015 and writing a report on it.

Thus, grading is optimized evenly across several components: four homework assignments, two programming assignments, midterm, a project, and a term paper.

Grading

For a total of 100 points, we have:

  1. Homeworks: 4 with 6 points for each: 24
  2. Programming assignments: 2 with 8 points for each: 16
  3. Midterm examination: 30
  4. Project: 20
  5. Term paper: 10
Homeworks, the project, and the term paper must be done individually whereas two students can work togther on programming assignments. The midterm examination will be in the open-everything mode, including any software tools such as Chat GPT.

Homework assignments in 2024

Assigned Due Remarks
Homework 1 Aug. 22 Aug. 29 -
Programming Assignment 1 Sep. 17 Oct. 1 -
Homework 2 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 -
Midterm examination Oct. 15 In-class for one hour; open-everything including the internet -
Homework 3 Oct. 11 Oct. 22 -
Programming Assignment 2 Oct. 24 TBA -
Homework 4 Nov. 5 Oct. 12 -
Project presentation and term paper TBA TBA -

Homework assignments in 2023

Assigned Due Remarks
Homework 1 Aug. 29th, 2023 Sep. 7th, 2023 -
Homework 2 Sep. 12th, 2023 Sep. 21st, 2023 -
Programming assignment 1 Sep. 21st, 2023 Oct. 5th, 2023 -
Homework 3 Oct. 17th, 2023 Oct. 26th, 2023 -
Homework 4 Nov. 14th, 2023 Nov. 21st, 2023 -
Programming assignment 2 Nov. 14th, 2023 Nov. 28th, 2023 -

Homework assignments in 2022

Assigned Due Remarks
Homework 1 Aug. 25th, 2022 Sep. 1st, 2022 Useful Matlab files
Solution files 1
Solution files 2 (shape optimization)
Homework 2 Sep. 1st, 2022 Sep. 8th, 2022 3D truss analysis code
Programming Assignment 1 Sep. 10th, 2022 Sep. 20th, 2022 -
Homework 3 Sep. 20th, 2022 Sep. 27th, 2022 -
Homework 4 Nov. 3rd, 2022 Nov. 17th, 2022 -
Programming assignment 2 Nov. 3rd, 2022 Nov. 22nd, 2022 -

Homework assignments in 2021

Assigned Due Remarks
Quiz 1 Aug. 20th, 2021/td> Aug. 24th, 2021 -
Quiz 2 Sep. 3rd, 2021/td> Sep. 7th, 2021 -
Programme assignment 1 Sep. 7th, 2021, 2021/td> Sep. 21th, 2021 -
Quiz 3 held in Zoom poll mode Sep. 24th, 2021 Sep. 24th, 2021 -
Quiz 4 held in Everyday Poll and takehome modes Oct. 8th, 2021 Oct. 12th, 2021 -
Programme assignment 2 Oct. 12th, 2021 Nov. 9th, 2021 -
Quiz 5 held in Everyday Poll Oct. 22nd, 2021 Oct. 22nd, 2021 -
Quiz 6 held in Everyday Poll Oct. 29th, 2021 Oct. 29th, 2021 -
Quiz 7 held in Everyday Poll Nov. 5th, 2021 Nov. 5th, 2021 -
Quiz 8 as do-it-at-home Nov. 19th, 2021 Nov. 23rd, 2021 -

Homework assignments in 2020

Assigned Due Remarks
Homework 1 Oct. 6th, 2020 Oct. 13th, 2020 -
Homework 2 Oct. 14th, 2020 Oct. 23th, 2020 -
Homework 3 Nov. 10th, 2020 Nov. 18th, 2020 -
Homework 4 Nov. 17th, 2020 Nov. 27th, 2020 -