Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. This book introduces the fundamentals of linear programming which encompasses the mathematical derivation of equations. It focuses on using linear programming technique to synthesize constituent members of an elastic structure for minimum weight of a system. The book provides the necessary theory as well as examples to illustrate the effectiveness of the different gradient-based, unconstrained optimization techniques. It offers different techniques for recursion, scaling and Lagrange multiplier determination. The book also focuses on the use of generalized optimality criteria as a means of optimizing both two-dimensional and three-dimensional structural systems subject to static and dynamic, essentially seismic, loads. It develops a constrained multi-objective optimization method in the form of a robust, practical, problem-independent algorithm to investigate the effect of multi-objective optimization on structural design.