This book contains the edited version of lectures and selected papers
presented at the NATO ADVANCED STUDY INSTITUTE ON COMPUTER AIDED OPTIMAL
DESIGN: Structural and Mechanical Systems, held in Tr6ia, Portugal, 29th
June to 11th July 1986, and organized by CEMUL -Center of Mechanics and
Materials of the Technical University of Lisbon. The Institute was
attended by 120 participants from 21 countries, including leading
scientists and engineers from universities, research institutions and
industry, and Ph.D. students. Some participants presented invited and
contributed papers during the Institute and almost all participated
actively in discussions on scientific aspects during the Institute. The
Advanced Study Institute provided a forum for interaction among eminent
scientists and engineers from different schools of thought and young
reseachers. The Institute addressed the foundations and current state of
the art of essential techniques related to computer aided optimal design
of structural and mechanical systems, namely: Vari- ational and Finite
Element Methods in Optimal Design, Numerical Optimization Techniques,
Design Sensitivity Analysis, Shape Optimal Design, Adaptive Finite
Element Methods in Shape Optimization, CAD Technology, Software
Development Techniques, Integrated Computer Aided Design and Knowledge
Based Systems. Special topics of growing importance were also pre-
sented.