On the solution of a minimum compliance topology optimisation problem by optimality criteria without a priori volume constraint specification.

The paper presents a topology optimisation method based on optimality criteria for total potential energy maximisation with a volume constraint. The final volume of the optimal structural configuration has not to be specified a priori and is directly controlled by the stress, displacement or stiffness constraints defined at the design problem layout phase. The proposed method leads to the identification of well defined structures characterised by a small number of discrete elements with intermediate material properties within a limited number of iterations. The results obtained by solving several two dimensional benchmark problems are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]