An approach to stiffness-damping simultaneous optimization Original Research Article

An approach is proposed to stiffness-damping simultaneous optimization of structural systems. The sum of mean square responses to stationary random excitations is minimized subject to the constraints on total stiffness capacity and total damper capacity. Optimality conditions are derived and a two-step optimization method using the optimality conditions is devised. In the first step, the optimal design is found for a specified set of total stiffness capacity and total damper capacity. In the second step, a series of optimal designs is found with respect to a varied set of total stiffness capacity and total damper capacity. An incremental inverse problem approach proposed by the present author is taken full advantage of. It is shown through numerical examples that the proposed method is efficient and reliable.