In this article, a direct transcription approach to the minimization of the volume of elastic
straight beams undergoing plane deformation and subject to buckling loads is presented. In …

Functionally graded beams, bars and rods have been gaining a relevant consideration in
engineering practice and research, taking into account variations of the material properties …

The direct transcription method that employs global collocation at Legendre-Gauss-Radau
points is addressed and applied to infinite-dimensional dynamic optimization problems in …

By integrating the physical and time domains with the Galerkin method and adopting
approximate solutions satisfying the boundary conditions, a set of algebraic equations of …

The stiffness maximization of elastic straight Euler-Bernoulli beams under the action of
linearly distributed loads is addressed. The goal is achieved by minimizing the average …

In this paper, we propose a modified variational approach to predict the morphology of the
flexible nozzle used in wind tunnel. Different from previous studies, the movements of the …

Nozzle facilities, which can generate high Mach number flows, are the core portions of the
supersonic wind tunnel. Different from traditional fixed nozzles, a flexible nozzle can deform …

The problem of finding the shape of initially straight elastic cantilever that minimizes volume,
and satisfies certain condition at the free end is analyzed. The recently analyzed longest …

We analyze the problem of finding the shape of a heavy cantilever that minimizes volume
and satisfies certain condition at the free end that corresponds to the so-called longest reach …

This dissertation is focused on the utility of variational principles and the vast possibilities
they offer as powerful tools for a suggestive use to solve optimization problems in structural …