About

Yakov Zelickman is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He has a theoretical background in solid and fracture mechanics, non-linear structural analysis, and optimization, complemented by extensive practical experience as a structural engineer. His research focuses on developing structural optimization algorithms aimed at creating smarter and more efficient structures. Zelickman is currently working on several projects in the field of structural design and optimization, which span different system scales and a variety of physical phenomena. His work includes leveraging optimization techniques to explore new architectures for structural batteries, material discovery and characterization, and concrete structural systems. He has been honored with the Nezer Prize for outstanding research in the analysis and design of structures. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s Structural Engineering Institute, serving on the Optimal Structural Design Committee, which underscores his dedication to advancing the field of structural optimization and outreach in the engineering community.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Structural engineering
• Mathematics
• Geometry
• Algorithm
• Mathematical analysis
• Forensic engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Mathematical optimization

Selected publications

• A Systematic Approach for Converting CAD Models to Voxel Representations for Efficient Topology Optimization

  2025-01-03

  article

  Topology optimization is a design tool that is garnering significant attention in industry. This implementation paper seeks to inform the practicing engineering community on how topology optimization can be integrated in real-world design development processes. Specifically, we present a systematic computational geometry method, based on Boolean operations on convex solids, for converting arbitrary CAD solids and traction boundary conditions to structured and regular finite element meshes and load vectors. This enables us to use efficient geometrical multi-grid solvers and leads to memory and CPU-time savings. A collaborative workflow is presented where topology optimization is used to design the support structure within the skin of a UAV, adopting a topology optimization formulation of mass minimization with a compliance constraint. The methods in this paper are particularly useful in cases where some parts of the design domain are defined and precluded from changing, such as the skin geometry in the case of wing or turbine blade structural design.

  PublisherDOI

• Introducing a general polygonal primitive for feature mapping-based topology optimization

  Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization · 2025-05-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Introducing a general polygonal primitive for feature mapping-based topology optimization

  2024-10-21

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  In topology optimization, feature mapping approaches allow for maintaining the simplicity of density-based methods while incorporating explicit geometrical parametrization. Existing methods often rely on geometric primitives that have analytical signed distance functions (SDF), which may offer limited design freedom or require costly numerical methods to approximate the SDF. This paper introduces a new type of general polygonal primitive that can be convex or non-convex, with an arbitrary number of vertices, the coordinates of which are assigned with design variables. As a result, the proposed parametrization is geometrically rich and explicit. Specifically, we present a new, differentiable, and efficient way to approximate the signed distance function of arbitrary polygons and develop a scheme that prevents self-intersection of polygons. The optimized designs with the proposed polygonal primitive are similar to classical results obtained with density-based methods, albeit with some minor sacrifice in performance due to the polygonal boundaries. The guaranteed straight lines of the optimized designs, however, are also beneficial in many cases, such as in reinforced concrete structures where curved boundaries are difficult to manufacture. Moreover, the explicit parametrization and the direct shape control facilitate the convenient imposition of a wide range of geometrical constraints that are not trivial with existing primitives.

  PublisherDOI

• Construction aware optimization of concrete plate thicknesses

  Engineering Structures · 2023-09-26 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Concrete is a significant contributor to the global CO 2 emissions, and therefore effort is being made to reduce its consumption in buildings and infrastructure. Since concrete flat slabs constitute most of the concrete in buildings, reducing their weight has great potential to reduce the overall environmental burden caused by buildings. In this study the authors develop an efficient, gradient-based thickness optimization framework for minimizing the concrete volume in concrete slabs , while insuring feasibility and constractability of the design. The results show that concrete savings of up to 35% are possible without increasing the structural depth, where in most cases minor increase in construction complexity is sufficient for significant concrete savings. Therefore, an appealing trade-off between the concrete savings, construction complexity, and architectural cost is revealed and can be used by engineers to reduce concrete consumption in buildings. The optimized thickness designs are not trivial and represent a balance between competing requirements that is obtained by the optimization algorithm, therefore the results demonstrate the potential of structural optimization as a design tool in structural engineering. • Thickness optimization of plates with concrete savings of up to 35%. • Most concrete savings are obtained for small increase in the design complexity. • Non-trivial optimized thickness distribution with distinct polygonal shapes. • Numerically efficient method due to the analytical derivation of all gradients. • Any floor plan can be optimized using the proposed method.

  PublisherDOI

• Optimization of plate supports using a feature mapping approach with techniques to avoid local minima

  Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization · 2022 · 13 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Mathematical optimization
  • Computer Science
  PublisherDOI

• Optimization of column layouts in buildings considering structural and architectural constraints

  Architecture Structures and Construction · 2022-12-09 · 4 citations

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Reducing concrete consumption is important as part of the global effort of fighting the climate change, and specifically in concrete flat slabs as these are among the largest cement consumers. In this study we formulate an efficient gradient-based optimization of column locations, that minimizes the slabs’ thickness with constraints on the deflections, bending moments and shear stresses while accounting for architectural considerations. The results show that the columns’ optimal locations are not trivial and that the slab thickness is very sensitive to the columns’ exact locations. Thus, concrete savings in slabs of up to 20% are possible with minor modification to traditional layouts of columns, and up to 50% with more pronounced updates, which emphasizes the importance of early collaboration between architects and engineers. The results indicate the critical trade-off between structural efficiency and architectural freedom and demonstrate the potential of formal optimization in structural design. Gradient-based optimization of columns locations in arbitrary shaped floors. Thickness minimization with deflections, strength, and architectural constraints. Concrete savings may reach 50% with non-trivial optimized column locations. Even minor updates in traditional column layouts may result in significant savings. The trade-off between structural efficiency and architectural freedom is studied.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optimization of post-tensioned concrete slabs for minimum cost

  Engineering Structures · 2022 · 18 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Structural engineering
  • Engineering
  PublisherDOI

• Layout optimization of post-tensioned cables in concrete slabs

  Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization · 2021 · 15 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Structural engineering
  • Computer Science
  PublisherDOI

• Topology Optimization with Stress Constraints Using Isotropic Damage with Strain Softening

  2017-12-05 · 3 citations

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
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Frequent coauthors

• Oded Amir

  Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

  5 shared

• James K. Guest

  2 shared

Awards & honors

• Nezer Prize for outstanding research in the analysis and des…