Formfinding and optimization of triangular shell structures

This paper presents two structural optimization approaches of a triangular shell aimed to attain the best bending–free state of stress in accordance to the principles of the minimum weight and the membrane–oriented structural behaviour. The key issue concerns the geometrical part of the whole optimization task. In the first case the exact shape of the shell has been defined through a continuous function whose parameters are assumed as design variables. In the second case, using a much more general tool for the definition of surfaces, i.e. CAGD technique, the current shape of the shell has been approximated through a triangular surface and controlled by the Cartesian coordinates of a few control joints, assumed as design variables.