Abstract
An integrated approach to the minimum weight design of geometrically non-linear three dimensional truss structures with geometric imperfections, subject to inequality constraints on static displacements, stresses, local buckling and cross sectional areas, in investigated. The integrated structural synthesis problem involves design and response quantities as independent variables and equilibrium equations, describing the finite element model, as equality constraints. The non-linear structural analysis and the optimization are thus merged together into a single process. A computer program developed to compute the contraint values and analytical gradients is coupled with a generalized reduced gradient algorithm to solve the integrated problem.