US Patent 10112731 Truss structure optimization techniques

Design of a 3-D truss structure, including a plurality of coupling nodes and a plurality of struts, is optimized by performing a quantitative optimization of an objective function corresponding to a figure of merit of the design. The quantitative optimization includes: generating a finite element analysis model, the analysis model a 3-D lattice mesh of strut-like finite elements; computing, with the finite element analysis model, a value for the objective function; and optimizing the objective function by executing at least two cycles of an optimization loop. The optimization loop includes a) computing a respective parameter of each strut-like finite element; b) deleting, from the finite element analysis model, selected finite elements for which a resulting mechanical property is less than a threshold; (c) computing an updated value for the objective function; and repeating the optimization loop until the objective function is within a desired tolerance of the specified value.