Optimization of structural systems and applications

The 3rd international conference on Computer Aided Optimum Design of Structure, OPTI 93, took place in Zaragoza (Spain) in July, 1993. Most of the presentations are included in this volume including new methods such as simulated annealing, biological growth, and genetic algorithms. Types of analysis considered here are linear and non-linear behaviours and probability regime. With those concepts, the capacity of numerical optimization was proven to be able to deal with complex problems. The sensitivity analyses appear in several works due to their influence on the efficiency of the methods and on the accuracy of the solution. Adaptive mesh design techniques used for minimizing the errors in discrete models are included.