Computational Methods in Structural Optimization

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in computational methods are increasingly shaping structural optimization, driving innovations across civil and architectural engineering, as well as in aerospace, mechanics, energy, offshore, manufacturing, robotics, biomechanics, and cultural heritage. The demand for sustainable, resilient, and high-performance systems requires advanced strategies that combine modern computing with engineering design.

This Special Issue invites the submission of contributions that emphasize both methodological progress and significant computing innovations. Alongside case studies from engineering practice, we particularly welcome work that introduces new algorithms, scalable numerical methods, surrogate modelling strategies, AI-driven approaches, or advances in software and workflows, including implementations of high-performance computing platforms such as GPUs, cloud-based environments, open-source tools, and protocols that ensure the reproducibility of results.

This Special Issue’s scope includes multi-objective, multidisciplinary, and uncertainty-aware optimization; topology, shape, and material optimization across scales; surrogate models, metamodeling, and data-driven approaches; evolutionary, reinforcement learning and bio-inspired algorithms; digital twins; real-time optimization and human-in-the-loop design; and multiscale and multiphysics modelling. Application fields range from civil and bridge engineering to aerospace and offshore structures, energy systems, robotics, biomechanics, additive manufacturing, and the preservation and strengthening of heritage constructions.

By emphasizing computational advances together with engineering applications, this Special Issue aims to foster dialogue between researchers in computing and engineering and to promote reproducible and scalable approaches for the next generation of engineering design.

Dr. Laura Sardone
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Carlo Marano
Prof. Dr. Rucheng Xiao
Dr. Beibei Xiong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Computation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• structural optimization
• computational methods
• artificial intelligence
• surrogate modelling and metamodeling
• generative and parametric design
• evolutionary and bio-inspired algorithms
• reinforcement learning for design
• multi-objective and multidisciplinary optimization
• robust and uncertainty-aware design
• digital twins
• real-time optimization
• human-in-the-loop frameworks
• multiscale and multiphysics modelling
• high-performance and GPU computing
• cloud-based computational workflows
• open-source software and reproducibility
• sustainable and resilient structures
• aerospace and offshore engineering applications
• robotics and biomechanics
• additive manufacturing and architected materials
• heritage preservation and retrofit