OPTIMAL REPAIR AND REINFORCEMENT OF BAR STRUCTURES USING FINITE TOPOLOGY VARIATIONS

The problem of optimal repair and/or optimal reinforcement of bar structures by introduction of new elements is considered in this paper. The corresponding optimization problem is formulated as the maximization of the global stiffness increment induced by repair (reinforcement) under the cost constraint. The potential energy is assumed as the measure of the global structure stiffness, while the cost constraint corresponds to condition imposed on the maximal cost of the repair and/or reinforcement. The method of determination of the structure global stiffness increment induced by finite topology modification is proposed and the optimization algorithm is presented. Numerical examples of optimal repair and/or reinforcement of some structures illustrate the theoretical considerations.