Features: Zero displacement boundary conditions, Easy to use geometry module for constructing stiffness matrix, Efficient solver based on CHOLMOD, Automatic Geometry Optimization
Dependencies: numpy, scipy and sksparse
For an example of how to use the solver see femsolver.py test() For an example of how to use the optimization try running opy.py
I make no claims about the following solutions being 'optimal', but they do make for interesting structures.
Consider the following problem where a bar of metal is constrained in place by a a cross in the middle. Then on both ends of the bar you apply a force in opposite directions as shown in the picture below.
If we run the solver we get the following Von-Mises stresses:
Running opy.py then yields the "optimized" geometry below where a lot of metal has been removed while maintaining high strength.
Now instead, consider a bridge which is fixed on both sides with an even loading along a straight road in the middle:
The optimizer then gives this cool looking bridge:
If we just slightly change the problem setup and hyperparameters we instead get this bridge:
