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Structural Optimization
Programme course
6 credits
Strukturoptimering
TMMS20
Valid from: 2018 Spring semester

Determined by
Board of Studies for Mechanical Engineering
and Design

Date determined

LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY STRUCTURAL OPTIMIZATION
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2(9)

Main field of study

Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Course level
Second cycle

Advancement level
A1X

Course offered for

Industrial Engineering and Management - International, M Sc in Engineering
Industrial Engineering and Management, M Sc in Engineering
Mechanical Engineering, M Sc in Engineering
Aeronautical Engineering, Master's Programme
Mechanical Engineering, Master's Programme

Entry requirements
Note: Admission requirements for non-programme students usually also include admission
requirements for the programme and threshold requirements for progression within the
programme, or corresponding.

Prerequisites
Basic courses in solid mechanics. Preferably a basic course in optimization.

Intended learning outcomes

In structural optimization we study the problem of finding the best mechanical design.
The word "best" has to be given a certain meaning, it could be to minimize the structural
weight or to maximize the stiffness. The course aims at giving knowledge and
understanding of how such maximum efficient load-carrying structures may be obtained,
and skill in using the corresponding computer based tools. After the course the students
should be able to
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Formulate engineering design problems for load carrying structures as optimization

problems, using both size, shape and topological variables.
Solve small-scale discrete problems.
Describe numerical algorithms suitable for structural optimization problems.
Solve some continuous structural optimization problems using calculus of
variations.
Use and describe the general steps involved in solving large scale shape and
topology optimization problems.

Course content
Basic concepts. Classification of structural optimization problems. Lagrangian duality.
Calculus of variations and energy principles in solid mechanics. Explicit approximations:
SLP, SQP, CONLIN, OC, MMA. Sensitivity analysis. Shape optimization. Structures of
maximum stiffness and topology optimization. The SIMP-method. Computer exercises on
shape and topology optimization will be performed with the FEM program TRINITAS.

Teaching and working methods

Lectures, lessons and computer exercises.

Examination
UPG1 Laboratory Work U, G 1.5 credits
TEN1 Written Examination U, 3, 4, 5 4.5 credits

Grades
Four-grade scale, LiU, U, 3, 4, 5

Other information
Supplementary courses: Project course in Mechanical Engineering Systems, Solid
Mechanics and Machine Design.

Department
Institutionen för ekonomisk och industriell utveckling
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Director of Studies or equivalent

Peter Schmidt

Examiner
Anders Klarbring

Course website and other links

Education components
Preliminary scheduled hours: 48 h
Recommended self-study hours: 112 h

Course literature
Books

P.W. Christensen and A. Klarbring, (2009) An Introduction to Structural Optimization

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Common rules
Course syllabus
A syllabus has been established for each course. The syllabus specifies the aim and
contents of the course, and the prior knowledge that a student must have in order to
be able to benefit from the course.

Timetabling
Courses are timetabled after a decision has been made for this course concerning its
assignment to a timetable module. A central timetable is not drawn up for courses
with fewer than five participants. Most project courses do not have a central
timetable.

Interrupting a course
The vice-chancellor’s decision concerning regulations for registration, deregistration
and reporting results (Dnr LiU-2015-01241) states that interruptions in study are to
be recorded in Ladok. Thus, all students who do not participate in a course for
which they have registered must record the interruption, such that the registration on
the course can be removed. Deregistration from a course is carried out using a web-
based form: [Link]/for-studenter/kurskomplettering?l=sv.

Cancelled courses
Courses with few participants (fewer than 10) may be cancelled or organised in a
manner that differs from that stated in the course syllabus. The board of studies is to
deliberate and decide whether a course is to be cancelled or changed from the
course syllabus.

Regulations relating to examinations and

examiners
Details are given in a decision in the university’s rule book:
[Link]
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Forms of examination
Examination
Written and oral examinations are held at least three times a year: once immediately
after the end of the course, once in August, and once (usually) in one of the re-
examination periods. Examinations held at other times are to follow a decision of the
board of studies.
Principles for examination scheduling for courses that follow the study periods:
courses given in VT1 are examined for the first time in March, with re-
examination in June and August
courses given in VT2 are examined for the first time in May, with re-
examination in August and October
courses given in HT1 are examined for the first time in October, with re-
examination in January and August
courses given in HT2 are examined for the first time in January, with re-
examination at Easter and in August.
The examination schedule is based on the structure of timetable modules, but there
may be deviations from this, mainly in the case of courses that are studied and
examined for several programmes and in lower grades (i.e. 1 and 2).
Examinations for courses that the board of studies has decided are to be held
in alternate years are held only three times during the year in which the course
is given.
Examinations for courses that are cancelled or rescheduled such that they are
not given in one or several years are held three times during the year that
immediately follows the course, with examination scheduling that corresponds
to the scheduling that was in force before the course was cancelled or
rescheduled.
If teaching is no longer given for a course, three examination occurrences are
held during the immediately subsequent year, while examinations are at the
same time held for any replacement course that is given, or alternatively in
association with other re-examination opportunities. Furthermore, an
examination is held on one further occasion during the next subsequent year,
unless the board of studies determines otherwise.
If a course is given during several periods of the year (for programmes, or on
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different occasions for different programmes) the board or boards of studies

determine together the scheduling and frequency of re-examination occasions.

Registration for examination

In order to take an examination, a student must register in advance at the Student
Portal during the registration period, which opens 30 days before the date of the
examination and closes 10 days before it. Candidates are informed of the location of
the examination by email, four days in advance. Students who have not registered for
an examination run the risk of being refused admittance to the examination, if space is
not available.
Symbols used in the examination registration system:
** denotes that the examination is being given for the penultimate time.
* denotes that the examination is being given for the last time.

Code of conduct for students during examinations

Details are given in a decision in the university’s rule book:
[Link]

Retakes for higher grade

Students at the Institute of Technology at LiU have the right to retake written
examinations and computer-based examinations in an attempt to achieve a higher
grade. This is valid for all examination components with code “TEN” and "DAT".
The same right may not be exercised for other examination components, unless
otherwise specified in the course syllabus.

Retakes of other forms of examination

Regulations concerning retakes of other forms of examination than written
examinations and computer-based examinations are given in the LiU regulations for
examinations and examiners,
[Link]

Plagiarism
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For examinations that involve the writing of reports, in cases in which it can be
assumed that the student has had access to other sources (such as during project
work, writing essays, etc.), the material submitted must be prepared in accordance
with principles for acceptable practice when referring to sources (references or
quotations for which the source is specified) when the text, images, ideas, data, etc.
of other people are used. It is also to be made clear whether the author has reused
his or her own text, images, ideas, data, etc. from previous examinations.
A failure to specify such sources may be regarded as attempted deception during
examination.

Attempts to cheat
In the event of a suspected attempt by a student to cheat during an examination, or
when study performance is to be assessed as specified in Chapter 10 of the Higher
Education Ordinance, the examiner is to report this to the disciplinary board of the
university. Possible consequences for the student are suspension from study and a
formal warning. More information is available at
[Link]

Grades
The grades that are preferably to be used are Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass not without
distinction (4) and Pass with distinction (5). Courses under the auspices of the faculty
board of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Institute of Technology) are to be
given special attention in this regard.
1. Grades U, 3, 4, 5 are to be awarded for courses that have written
examinations.
2. Grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) may be awarded for courses with a large
degree of practical components such as laboratory work, project work and
group work.

Examination components
1. Grades U, 3, 4, 5 are to be awarded for written examinations (TEN).
2. Grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) are to be used for undergraduate projects and
other independent work.
3. Examination components for which the grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) may be
awarded are laboratory work (LAB), project work (PRA), preparatory
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written examination (KTR), oral examination (MUN), computer-based

examination (DAT), home assignment (HEM), and assignment (UPG).
4. Students receive grades either Fail (U) or Pass (G) for other examination
components in which the examination criteria are satisfied principally through
active attendance such as other examination (ANN), tutorial group (BAS) or
examination item (MOM).
The examination results for a student are reported at the relevant department.

Regulations (apply to LiU in its entirety)

The university is a government agency whose operations are regulated by legislation
and ordinances, which include the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education
Ordinance. In addition to legislation and ordinances, operations are subject to several
policy documents. The Linköping University rule book collects currently valid
decisions of a regulatory nature taken by the university board, the vice-chancellor
and faculty/department boards.
LiU’s rule book for education at first-cycle and second-cycle levels is available at
[Link]
_och_avancerad_niva.