Automated Structural Optimization Using the Finite Element Method and an Expert System

Abstract

<p>This thesis describes the development of a software system, which integrates the optimization, finite element, expert system and computer aided design techniques to achieve a highly automatic structural design.</p> <p>New knowledge has been developed for the theory of expert systems, including an knowledge acquisition approach by linear programming and machine learning.</p> <p>Several algorithms have been developed to increase the efficiency of the finite element based optimization.</p>