Finally a brief bibliography on the topic of tructural optimisation is presented. There are three distinct forms of structural optimisation. Each one has a different solution strategy. In a given design situation all three can be present. 2.1 Topology optimisation.
Topology optimisation exists where the actual form of the structure is unknown in advance.
What is known are the environments the structure has to live in and the optimality criteria that need to be applied. In Aerospace this could be the shape of the wing carry through box for a large civilian aircraft that also has under-carriage pick up points. There are several load cases for all the different flight regimes and several different sets of support conditions for in-flight and landing. The optimality criterions are most likely to be on stress and stiffness with possible subsidiary ones on frequency and buckling. The object of topology optimisation is to have no restriction on the final form of the structure.