{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/49727"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/49727","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Macro-element approach for topology optimization of trusses using a ground structure method","abstract":"In this thesis, the generation of initial ground structures for generic domains in two and three dimensions are discussed. Two methods of discretization are compared: Voronoi-based discretizations and structured quadrilateral discretizations. In addition, a simple and effective member generation approach is proposed: the Macro-element approach; which can be implemented with both types of discretization. The features of the approach are discussed: efficient generation of initial ground structures; reduction in matrix bandwidth for global stiffness matrix; finer control of bar connectivity; and reduction of overlapped bars. Numerical examples are presented which display the features of the proposed approach, and highlight the comparison with literature results and traditional ground structure generation methods.","abstract_html":"In this thesis, the generation of initial ground structures for generic domains in two and three dimensions are discussed. Two methods of discretization are compared: Voronoi-based discretizations and structured quadrilateral discretizations. In addition, a simple and effective member generation approach is proposed: the Macro-element approach; which can be implemented with both types of discretization. The features of the approach are discussed: efficient generation of initial ground structures; reduction in matrix bandwidth for global stiffness matrix; finer control of bar connectivity; and reduction of overlapped bars. Numerical examples are presented which display the features of the proposed approach, and highlight the comparison with literature results and traditional ground structure generation methods.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Zhang, Xiaojia"],"institution":"University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"M.S.","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Civil Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Paulino, Glaucio H."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-05-30T17:06:42Z","date_published":"2014-05-30T17:06:42Z","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:40Z","subjects":["Topology Optimization of Trusses","Ground Structure Method","Structured Quadrilateral Element","Voronoi-based Element","Macro-element Approach"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright 2014 Xiaojia Zhang"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/2142/49727","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Paulino, Glaucio H."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Zhang, Xiaojia"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2014-05-30T17:06:42Z","2016-09-22T20:59:31Z","2014-05"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Civil Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.S."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Topology Optimization of Trusses","Ground Structure Method","Structured Quadrilateral Element","Voronoi-based Element","Macro-element Approach"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2014 Xiaojia Zhang"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/2142/49727"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["In this thesis, the generation of initial ground structures for generic domains in two and three dimensions are discussed. 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Two methods of discretization are compared: Voronoi-based discretizations and structured quadrilateral discretizations. In addition, a simple and effective member generation approach is proposed: the Macro-element approach; which can be implemented with both types of discretization. The features of the approach are discussed: efficient generation of initial ground structures; reduction in matrix bandwidth for global stiffness matrix; finer control of bar connectivity; and reduction of overlapped bars. 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