Topology optimization of plane trusses using the progressive directional selection method

More and more people are looking for inspiration in nature to solve complex problems in modern society. Naturalist Charles Darwin extensively studied the behavior of living beings in their environment and proposed a theory that explains how life changes. The Theory of Natural Selection of the directional type inspires the topological optimization method proposed in this work. The Progressive Directional Selection (PDS) method aims to optimize a structure by selectively removing parts that contribute the least to supporting mechanical loads in different stages while retaining those that contribute the most. The PDS is applied to two-dimensional truss structures, starting with a ground structure as the initial domain. The topologies of the selected optimized structures efficiently support the applied loads and are similar to those obtained by other topological optimization methods found in the literature. The results demonstrate that this method can be used in the optimized design of two-dimensional trusses.