A new approach to optimization of viscoelastic beams: minimization of the input/output transfer function H ∞ $\boldsymbol {H}_{\infty }$ -norm

Abstract

A new approach to structural optimization in dynamic regime is presented that is based on the minimization of the Hź$H_{\infty }$ norm of the transfer function between the external loads and the structural response. The method is successfully applied to the sizing optimization of viscoelastic beams as shown by extensive numerical investigations that are presented in much detail. The abstract nature of the proposed approach makes it applicable to a wide class of dynamical systems including 2D and 3D systems within general topology optimization frameworks that are object of ongoing analysis.