SUMMARY
Structural optimization has received increasing attention in several different areas of engineering and has been identified as the most challenging and economically rewarding task in the field of structural design. In this context, the current paper proposes a methodology based on Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO) that corresponds to an evolutionary procedure applied for topological optimization in which the finite elements with the lowest stress levels are progressively removed from a structure. The optimization studies are applied for structures subjected to a transient dynamic response where different damping ratios are applied in the physical models, since its determination is extremely hard and can even change the structural stiffness in case of elastoplastic regime. Thus, a nonlinear behavior is considered to evaluate the effects for each damping ratio, and elastoplasticity theory for small strains is extended for a von Mises material with linear, isotropic work-hardening. For this purpose it is possible to evaluate a combination of different optimal topologies for the different damping ratios through an algorithm developed in the Python programming language. The stress levels present such a difference for each linear and nonlinear response, which characterizes a marked change in the structural stiffness of each analyzed model.