  For a given external loading on a structure we consider the optimal stresses.
Ignoring the material properties the structure may have, we look for the
distribution of internal forces or stresses that is in equilibrium with the
external loading and whose maximal component is the least. We present an
expression for this optimal value in terms of the external loading and the
matrix relating the external degrees of freedom and the internal degrees of
freedom. The implementation to finite element models consisting of elements of
uniform stress distributions is presented. Finally, we give an example of
stress optimization for of a two-element model of a cylinder under external
traction.
