Stress　constraints　are　associated　with　each　element.　Therefore,　a　large　number　of　constraints　must　be　considered;　and　the　sensitivity　analyses　associated　with　stress　constraints　is　too　expensive　to　be　acceptable.　Structure　may　also　be　subjected　to　multiple　loading　combinations,　which　increases　the　number　of　constraints　and　computation　costs.　Based　on　the　von　Mises　strength　theory,　overall　elements＇　stress　constraints　are　transformed　into　a　structural　energy　constraint,　namely,　a　global　constraint　substituting　for　many　local　constraints.　ICM　method　is　adopted　to　formulate　and　solve　the　problem　of　the　topology　optimization　of　continuum　structure　subjected　to　the　global　strain　energy　constraint.　The　process　of　optimization　is　divided　into　three　steps:　(a)　the　maximal　structural　energy　subjected　to　a　weight　constraint　is　minimized　to　converge　to　minimum;　(b)　according　to　the　minimum　energy,　a　formula　based　on　numerical　experience　is　obtained　to　determine　the　allowable　structural　energy　under　each　load　combination;　(c)　an　optimization　model　with　the　weight　function　subjected　to　all　allowable　structural　energies　is　established　and　solved　to　search　for　the　optimum　topological　structure.　The　allowable　structural　energy　given　by　the　formula　in　the　second　step　can　handle　the　cases　of　large　load-difference　or　morbid　loadings.　Several　numerical　examples　show　that　the　path　of　load　transfer　can　be　obtained　using　the　global　constraints　of　stresses,　convenient　for　multiple　loading　combinations.