9300196 Cagan The shape annealig algorithm is used to generate network topologies for flow systems. Shape annealing combines the concepts of shape grammars and the stochastic optimization technique of simulated annealing to produce optimally directed design configurations. Applications of the shape annealing algorithm to network flow problems include piece layout, structural topology generation (such as trusses), and land use and transportation problems. Application requires a shape grammer that models the characteristics of the design space and evaluation function on the design
