Optimum design of pin-jointed frameworks

Abstract

Summary. A linear programme is formulated which determines the layout and member sizes of frameworks, designed to carry given forces, made from material with a given allowable stress and using a minimum volume of material. The dual program is shown to lead to Michell\\'s criteria for optimum design. A practical method of calculation, based on the dual, is presented and a computer program written in Algol is given in an appendix. Examples include unrestricted cantilevers under tip force and distributed forces, a restricted cantilever under tip force and structures of the type required for machine tools.