Optimal Topologies in Case of Probabilistic Loading: The Influence of Load Correlation

Abstract In the proposed probabilistic topology optimization method, the minimum penalized weight design of the structure is subjected to probabilistic compliance and side constraints. The calculation of the compliance value is based on the assumption that the magnitude of the loads has uncertainties so that their joint normal distribution functions, mean values, and covariances are known and a minimum probability value is given. Applying an appropriate approximation, the original problem is replaced by a deterministic one. By the use of the optimality conditions, an updated iterative design formulation is presented. Several new topology design problems are calculated with randomly given loads.