...Jin-Song Pei; Eric C. Mai This paper presents a major step in the development and validation of a systematic prototype-based methodology for designing multilayer feedforward neural networks to model nonlinearities common in engineering mechanics. The applications of this work include...

... to manufacture a prototype second order truss with a relative density of about 2%. The experimental investigation confirmed the analytical strength predictions of the second order truss, and demonstrate that its strength is about ten times greater than that of a first order truss of the same relative density...