## trying to make a cantilever with the highest efficiency

Right now I'm trying to make a cantilever with the highest efficiency. I'm trying to design several models but I have questions:

How can one make one without having to find the best design through numerous times of trail and error? Is there an equation for cantilevers which dictate the efficiency of the design?

How do professional engineers come up with ideas to complete this sort of task?
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 Recognitions: Science Advisor How are you defining efficiency? "Efficiency" by itself is an ambiguous word. You need to be specific. Yes. There are standard well defined equations for all types of beams with varying loading and boundary conditions. In pure bending, they all stem from the solutions derived from the differential equation relating moment to shear: $$EI\left[\frac{d^4v}{dx^4}\right]=-W_{(x)}$$ Theory: http://www.efunda.com/formulae/solid...ams/theory.cfm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler-B..._beam_equation Solved Equations: https://ecourses.ou.edu/cgi-bin/eboo...appendix=beams
 efficiency: Total load that the structure held in grams/ mass of structure. For the Euler Buckling Formula, I do not understand how to get the compressive load P or I. In example problems, the question gives the value of E and the L. Is the P just the load in N? or do you have to calculuate something inorder to get it? and for I. The load I'm using is 15 kg or 33 pounds. The L is 43 cm and the structure which touches the wall is a sqaure, 5 by 5 cm. How would you apply this to the equation?