Confrontation of Genetic Algorithm Optimization Process with a New Reference Case: Analytical Study with Experimental Validation of the Deflection of a Cantilever Beam

This paper deals with the optimization of a cantilever beam submitted to its own weight. In a first approach, we consider that the beam section can be equal to two values and we are looking for the section changing location, which minimizes the deflection. We propose an analytical model with an experimental validation that will allow us to optimize the shape of the beam. Then, we develop a numerical code based on a genetic algorithm that we validate on this case. In a last section, we use our numerical optimization code to find the best shape of the beam, where the section can now take any values in a given range, to minimize its deflection. These two study cases can serve as reference case to validate numerical approach for automatic structure optimization.