This paper presents topology optimization of geometrically and materially nonlinear structures using a bi-directional evolutionary optimization (BESO) method. To maximum the stiffness of nonlinear structures under prescribed design load, the complementary work is selected as the objective function of the optimization. An optimal design can be obtained by gradually removing inefficient material and adding efficient ones. The proposed method can be applied to a series of geometrically and/or materially nonlinear structures. The results show considerable differences in topologies and stiffness of the optimal designs for linear and nonlinear structures. It is found that the optimal designs for nonlinear structures are much stiffer than those for linear structures when large design loads (which result in significantly nonlinear deformations) are applied.