Discussion of "Macroelement and Macropatch Approaches to Structural Topology Optimization Using the Ground Structure Method" by Xiaojia Zhang, Sushant Maheshwari, Adeildo S. Ramos Jr., and Glaucio H. Paulino.

The article offers information on study which describes approaches for generating initial ground structures in fields of discrete structural topology optimization which includes macroelement and macropatch methods. Topics discussed include information on optimal topology obtained with macroelement method; use of tensile bars for satisfying static equilibrium conditions and are ineffective as load transfer mechanisms; and information on the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) method.