A multiobjective and fixed elements based modification of the evolutionary structural optimization method Original Research Article

In 1993, Y.M. Xie and G.P. Steven introduced an approach called evolutionary structural optimization (ESO). ESO is based on the simple idea that the optimal structure (maximum stiffness, minimum weight) can be produced by gradually removing the ineffectively used material from the design domain. The design domain is constructed by the FE method, and furthermore, external loads and support conditions are applied to the element model. Considering the engineering aspects, ESO seems to have some attractive features: the ESO method is very simple to program via the FEA packages and requires a relatively small amount of FEA time. On the other hand, different constraints cannot be added into the problem. In the ESO optimization the results supposedly approach truss-like, fully stressed topologies, which have the maximum stiffness with respect to the volume. Generally, these types of structures correspond to least-weight trusses.