Design for Minimum Weight

Abstract

Design rather than analysis poses the real problem in machines and structures. The basis for an optimum design is, of course, a compromisebetween material and fabrication costs within some space limitation. It is always of interest, therefore, to know the minimum weight possible so that an appropriate design may be selected. A very simple formal approach to this problem is outlined for a perfectly plastic material with a completely general yield criterion and then specialized to sheets, membranes and plates, Some of the specific results have been established previously by more elaborate techniques, others appear to be new. Much more work must be done because in all cases the conditions found are sufficient rather than necessary and the question of existence of solutions arises. Also, in applications involving bending of homogeneous beams and plates the minimum is a relative one and not an absolute one as for space structures, sheets, and membranes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1956
Accession Number
ADA950504

Entities

People

  • D. C. Drucker
  • R. T. Shield

Organizations

  • Brown University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Calculus
  • Calculus Of Variations
  • Collapse
  • Dissipation
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Fabrication
  • Materials
  • Mathematics
  • Membranes
  • Munitions
  • New York
  • Ordnance Laboratories
  • Strain Rate
  • Stresses
  • Thickness

Readers

  • Structural Dynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space