Structural optimization methods are used for a wide range of engineering problems. In geotechnical engineering however, only limited experience exists with these methods. The possibilities and difficulties in applying such techniques to geotechnical problems are discussed in this paper and the adaption of the commonly known SIMP-method (Solid Isotropic Material with Penelization) to geotechnical problems is introduced. An application example is used to demonstrate the potential of structural optimization in geotechnical engineering.
