Design sensitivity and constraint approximation methods for optimization in non-linear analysis

Abstract

SUMMARYFor the ®nite element non-linear analysis of engineering problems combined with an optimization method, two techniques Ð a semi-analytical sensitivity method and bi-point constraint approximation Ð have been proposed. To validate the proposed methods, a raft foundation on a soil medium has been analysed and the results have been compared. From the numerical results, it has been found that, for non-linear analysis, the semi-analytical sensitivity method is more ecient than the ®nite dierence method and the bi-point approximation gives results which compare favourably with the ®nite element results. #