The IUTAM Symposium on "Discrete Structural Optimization" was devoted to discuss optimization problems for which design va riables may not be sought among continuous sets. Optimum sizing from lists of available profiles, segmentation; as well as allocation and number of supports, sensors or actuators, are good exam ples of such problems for which design variables may be chosen only from finite sets. The above problems are having not only important practical applications. They are also inspiring scienti fic research in the field of discrete applied mathematics. Among them are controlled enumeration methods, subgradient approach, genetic programming, multicriteria optimization, neural nets etc. Along with its tradition of promoting and supporting new im portant fields of research in mechanics and its application, General Assembly of IUTAM decided in 1990 to support the Sumposium. It is worthy to note that this is the second IUTAM Symposium on structural optimization, organized in Poland. The first one was held in Warsaw twenty years ago and was organized by Profe ssors Sawczuk and Mroz. It was devoted mostly to problems with continuous design variables. The Symposium which gathered 40 participants from 12 coun tries was sponsored by several institutions listed below. However support by IUTAM should be specially appreciated. It helped se veral scientists to contribute to the Symposium which other way wouldn't attend the meeting.

Klappentext

This volume contains a selection of papers presented at the IUTAM Symposium on Discrete Structural Optimization held in Zakopane, Poland from 31 August - 3 September, 1993.The aim of the symposium was to bring together active researchers in structural optimization and provide a forum for the exchange of results and ideas and point out directions for research in this fast-growing field.

Inhalt
Optimal Damping of Beams and Plates by Genetic Algorithms.- Optimization by the Voting Method of Structures Formed of Planar Constitutive Parts.- Neuro-Optimizer, Its Application to Discrete Structural Optimization.- Genetic Algorithms in Topological Design of Grillage Structures.- Optimization of a Linear Objective Function with Logical Constraints.- On Optimal Structural Segmentation Problem.- Application of Discrete Optimization Techniques to Optimal Composite Structures.- A Random Search Approach to Multicriterion Discrete Optimization.- Optimal Arrangement of Ribs in Rib Reinforced Plates and Shells.- Application of the Expert System for Discrete Optimization of Space Truss.- Discrete Structural Optimization Based on Multipoint Explicit Approximations.- Optimization of Perturbation Parameters for Forced Vibration Stress Levels of Turbomachinery Blade Assemblies.- New Discretized Optimality Criteria Methods State of the Art.- Discretized Methods for Topology Optimization.- Homology Design of Flexible Structure by the Finite Element Method.- Optimization of Structure and Development of Production System.- Support Number and Allocation for Optimum Structure.- Sensor Allocation for State and Parameter Estimation of Distributed Systems.- Optimal Location of Piezoelectric Actuators.- Optimal Discrete Design of Elastoplastic Structures.- Multicriterion Discrete Optimization of Space Trusses with Serviceability Constraints.- Symbolic Computations Approach in Controlled Enumeration Methods Applied to Discrete Optimization.- General P-A Method in Discrete Optimization of Frames.- A More General Optimization Problem for Uniquely Decodable Codes.