×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

(OP)
Hello everyone!
I hope my question doesn't sound very silly but I am quite confused and I haven't been able to clear this out myself. In various textbooks and articles of structural optimization I have come across the term "minimum compliance" referring to optimizing the design for a structure for maximum stiffness. The problem is that in these texts the so called "compliance" variable is defined as C=FTU , given in terms of energy (Force*Displacements) and it is getting directly associated with strain energy. I was under the impression that compliance is the inverse of stiffness and therefore it should be given in terms of Displacement/Force. Am I missing something basic here?
Any response would be really appreciated.

RE: Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

I believe that the inverse of stiffness is flexibility.

BA

RE: Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

(OP)
Thank you for your answer.
I am aware that the inverse of stiffness is termed "flexibility" and this is actually the term that I have been using for it.
The reason that I am confused about it is that when I searched for the definition of the term "compliance" I have found it being defined both as the inverse of stiffness (in general structural analysis and FEM textbooks) and as C=FTU (in structural optimization textbooks). As I was not familiar with the term, it was confusing to find contradicting definitions.
In the end what is the usual meaning that is given to the term "compliance"?

RE: Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

I have never used the term "compliance" in reference to structures, but "flexibility" and "compliance" are both mentioned in the following Wikipedia definition of stiffness. I am still trying to understand the difference between them but so far, without success. Maybe someone else can help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiffness#Compliance

BA

RE: Definition of "compliance" in structural optimization

(OP)
It doesn't appear to be a commonly used term it would seem. Thank you for your reply.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources