Load Path Analysis for Structural Design and Optimization: A Brief Review

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors
Shengjie Zhao 1
Yu Xiao 2
Nan Wu 1
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, R3T 2N2, Canada
2 School of Electromechanical Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, 100 Waihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, 510006, China
10.22055/jacm.2025.48402.5207
Abstract
It is critical to understand how the internal force is transferred in a mechanical system to design an efficient load-bearing structure. Thanks to the advances in finite element analysis (FEA), several load path analysis approaches have been developed to study the internal load transfer. In this brief review, the theoretical backgrounds of four different load path methods reported in the aerospace and automotive industries are overviewed. These methods can be categorized into stress-based methods and stiffness-based methods. Next, the recent improvements and applications of each method are investigated. It is found that stress-based methods are helpful in optimizing local structural members, such as reinforced fiber arrangement in composites, whereas stiffness-based methods provide meaningful insights into the structural performance from the macroscopic view. Finally, a comparison summary of these methods is provided. Recommended future work and potential applications are also proposed. 
Keywords
Load path analysis
Finite element analysis
Structural analysis
Design optimization
Review
Subjects

Publisher’s Note Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Journal of Applied and Computational Mechanics
Volume 12, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 594-606