Optimized a 32-inch span balsa truss for maximum load-carrying capacity across a 10-dimensional design space with coupled constraints.
• Maximize predicted failure load under a single point load 2 inches above the support line
• All 11 members within 8.5–14 inch length bounds
• Total member length under 120-inch material budget
Balanced force distribution, buckling capacity, and joint buildability throughout.
Project Complete
Genetic algorithm explored 39,280 candidate designs over 217 generations. Final geometry predicted a failure load of 56.20 ± 4.45 oz (3.51 lb), exceeding the 32 oz minimum by 76% with 97.7% material utilization. The optimizer discovered an asymmetric load point at 75% span and a shallow top-chord arch peaking at 11.22 inches, geometric features that would have been impractical to find through manual iteration.
