Topology optimization of 3D linkages with application to morphing winglets

Topology optimization is the process of optimizing both the material layout and the connectivity inside a design domain. The first paper on topology optimization dates back to 1904, when the Australian inventor Michell derived optimality criteria for minimum weight truss structures. In 1988 Bendsøe and Kikuchi published the pioneering paper ...

The optimal power distribution for cycling a time trial

In this thesis a problem of determining the optimal pacing strategy to minimize travel time is considered. The problem is restricted to a straight race track with constant slope and rolling resistance, and no headwind. It is expressed as an optimal control problem that can be solved using Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. The control variable is...