Numerical lower bound shakedown analysis of engineering structures

We propose a numerical method for the computation of shakedown loads of engineering structures subjected to varying thermo-mechanical loading. The method is based on Melan’s lower bound shakedown theorem using the von Mises yield criterion. The resulting nonlinear convex optimization problem is presented in a generalized formulation and then solved by an interior-point algorithm, which is characterized by a problem-tailored solution strategy, particularly suitable for application to large-scale engineering structures.Theoretical and numerical issues of the algorithm are described. It’s efficiency is shown by application to thermo-mechanical problems from power plant engineering. The results are compared to those found in literature as well as to calculations with other optimization codes lancelot, ipopt and ipdca.