The proposed investigation will develop a methodology to determine the worst shape of imperfection for any lattice type structure, as well as a simple relationship between the magnitude of the imperfection and the corresponding drop in a load carrying capacity that is a asymptotically exact for small imperfections. This will be achieved by means of the Lyapunov-Schmidt-Koiter decomposition followed by asymptotic results, as well as by an iterative numerical technique which allows the limit point for the imperfect structure to be traced while changes in the size and/or shape of the imperfection (or other design parameter) are made.
