In recent years, the Finite Element Methods FEM were more and more employed in development and design departments as very fast working tools in order to determine stresses, deformations, eigenfrequencies etc. for all kinds of constructions under complex loading conditions. Meanwhile. very effective software systems have been developed by various research teams although some mathematical problems (e. g. convergence) have not been solved satisfac torily yet. In order to make further advances and to find a common language between mathe maticians and mechanicians the "Society for Applied Mathematics and Mechanics" (GAMM) agreed on the foundation of a special Committee: "Discretization Methods in Solid Mechanics" focussing on the following problems: - Structuring of various methods (displacement functions, hybrid and mixed approaches, etc. >, - Survey of approach functions (Lagrange-/Hermite-polynominals, Spline-functions), - Description of singularities, - Convergence and stability, - Practical and theoretical optimality to all mentioned issues (single and interacting). One of the basic aims of the GAMM-Committee is the interdisciplinary cooperation between mechanicians, mathematicians, and users which shall be intensified. Thus, on September 22, 1985 the committee decided to hold a seminar on "Structural Optimization" in order to allow an exchange of experiences and thoughts between the experts of finite element methods and those of structural optimization. A GAMM-seminar entitled "Discretization Methods and Structural Optimization - Procedures and Applications" was hold on October 5-7, 1988 at the Unversity of Siegen.

Inhalt
Opening Lecture.- Actual State of Structural Optimization.- Contributed Papers.- Interactive Design Optimization of Structural Systems.- Quasi-Optimization for Efficient Stiffness Design of Structures.- Engineering Applications of Heuristic Multilevel Optimization Methods.- Weight Optimization of Steel Frames with Consideration of Geometrical and Material Nonlinearities.- Shape Optimization as a Discrete Optimization Problem - Solution Procedures Using Continuous Approximations.- Solving Scalar Problems of Vector Optimization.- Multilevel Optimization of Large-Scale Structures in a Parallel Computing Environment.- Finite Elements and Structural Optimization - Some Aspects of Problem Formulation.- Optimization of Supporting Conditions for Columns Subjected to Nonconservative Loads.- Multi-Stage Optimization of Structures Subject to Static and Dynamic Loading.- On a Decomposition Technique within the Scope of a Design Optimization Process.- A Recursive Procedure for the Solution of Linear and Nonlinear Vector Optimization Problems.- Optimal Design of Viscoplastic Structures under Dynamic Loadings.- Application of Interactive Vector Optimization Methods with regard to Problems in Structural Mechanics.- Convex Approximation Strategies in Structural Optimization.- Preliminary Design of a Filament Wound Pressure Vessel: A Coupled Decision Support Problem.- On the Accuracy of Shape Sensitivity Derivatives.- Knowledge Acquisition for Expert System Aided Structural Optimization by means of transformation Methods and Primal Methods.- Control of the von Mises Stress with Dynamic Programming.- Some Aspects in Optimal Design Using Behaviour Models.- Multiobjective Reliability-Based Optimization of Plastic Frames.- Multipurpose Optimization of Vibrating Timoshenko Shafts.- StructuralOptimization and Analysis with Program System CARAT.- Development and Application of an Optimization Procedure for Space and Aircraft Structures.- Integral Equation Methods in the Internal Structure Optimization.- Comparison of Three Levels of Formulation in a Simple Circular Plate Optimization Problem.- Mixed Elements in Optimal Design of Plates.- Dual Methods for Large-Scale Partially-Separable Nonlinear Optimization.- Optimal Design of Axisymmetric Shell Structures with Static and Dynamic Constraints.- Optimal Shape Design in Contact Problems.- Optimal Structural Design via Bound Formulation and Mathematical Programming.- Computer Aided Multicriterion Optimization System (CAMOS).- Knowledge-Based Enhancements of Active Set Strategies in Optimal Structural Design.- Optimization Method Applied to Identification of Material Parameters.- Interactive Shape Optimization with Design Elements.- Optimality Criteria for Continuous and Segment-Wise Linear Distribution of the Cross-Sectional Parameters.- Integrated Computational Considerations for Large Scale Structural Design Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization.- Simultaneous Shape and Cross-Sectional Optimization of Mechanical Structures.- A Model for Simulation and Optimization of the Metal Forming Process at Roller Levelling.- Knowledge-Based Problem Solving Systems in Structural Optimization.- A Penalty Approach for Nonlinear Optimization with Discrete Design Variables.- Entropy-Based Minimax Applications in Shape-Optimal Design.- Automatic Generation of Finite Element Meshes in Structural Optimization.- Optimization of Machine Tools - a Mixed-Discrete-Continuous Problem.- Author Index.