Aleksandras Cyras and Optimization in Structural Mechanics

The study describes how in Lithuania (mostly in Vilnius) during some past decades a new trend of investigations in structural mechanics thanks to Aleksandras Čyras' (1927–2001) research and organisational activities has been developed. The main distinguished features of the trend are: application of mathematical programming, and especially the duality theory, to the optimization of elastic-plastic and other structures, formulation of mathematical models of structural mechanics problems, elaborating algorithms and programmes for their solution. The advantages of the research results are shown, a large information concerning the publication of the results and the evolution of investigations initiated by A. Čyras are presented.