Abstract
In this paper, an optimization method of thin walled beam structures is proposed, Stiffnesses of a thin walled beam are characterized by the thickness of thin plates and the shape of the typical section of the beam. Explicit formula for section properties such as area, area moment of inertia, and torsional constants are derived using the response surface method. The explicit formula can be used for the optimal design of a structural system which consists of complicated thin walled beams. A vehicle structural system is optimized to demonstrate the proposed method.