Design of Space Trusses Using Big Bang–Big Crunch Optimization
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 7
Abstract
A procedure for designing low-weight space trusses based on the innovative Big Bang–Big Crunch (BB–BC) optimization method is developed for both discrete and continuous variable optimization. BB-BC optimization is a population-based heuristic search consisting of two parts: The Big Bang where candidate solutions are randomly distributed over the search space; and a Big Crunch where a contraction operation estimates a weighted average or center of mass for the population. Each sequential Big Bang is then randomly distributed about the center of mass. The objective of the optimization is to minimize the total weight (or cost) of the structure subjected to material and performance constraints in the form of stress and deflection limits. Designs are evaluated for fitness based on their penalized structural weight, which represents the actual truss weight and the degree to which the design constraints are violated. BB-BC optimization has several advantages over other evolutionary methods: Most significantly, a numerically simple algorithm with relatively few control parameters; and the ability to handle a mixture of both continuous and discrete design variables. Low-weight design and performance comparisons for several benchmark-type truss structures are presented between the BB-BC procedure and various classical and evolutionary optimization methods.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Adeli, H., and Kamal, O. (1986). “Efficient optimization of space trusses.” Comput. Struct., 24(3), 501–511.
Allwood, R. J., and Chung, Y. S. (1984). “Minimum-weight design of trusses by an optimality criteria method.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng., 20, 697–713.
Camp, C. V., and Bichon, B. J. (2004). “Design of space trusses using ant colony optimization.” J. Struct. Eng., 130(5), 741–751.
Camp, C., Pezeshk, S., and Cao, G., (1998). “Optimized design of two-dimensional structures using a genetic algorithm.” J. Struct. Eng., 124(5), 551–559.
Cao, G. (1996). “Optimized design of framed structures using a genetic algorithm.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Memphis, Tenn.
Chao, N. H., Fenves, S. J., and Westerberg, A. W. (1984). “Application of reduced quadratic programming techniques to optimal structural design.” New directions in optimum structural design, E. Atrek, R. H. Gallagher, K. M. Radgsdell, and O. C. Zienkiewicz, eds., Wiley, New York.
Erbatur, F., Hasançebi, I., and Tütüncü, H. K. (2000). “Optimal design of planar and space structures with genetic algorithms.” Comput. Struct., 75, 209–224.
Erol, O. K., and Eksin, I. (2006). “A new optimization method: Big Bang-Big crunch.” Adv. Eng. Software, 37, 106–111.
Fourie, P. C., and Groenwold, A. A. (2002). “The particle swarm optimization algorithm in size and shape optimization.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 23, 259–267.
Galante, M. (1996). “Genetic algorithm as an approach to optimize real-world trusses.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng., 39, 361–382.
Galton, F. (1907). “Vox populi.” Nature (London), 75, 450–451.
Gellatly, R. A., Berke, L., and Gibson, W. (1971). “The use of optimality cretria in automated structural design.” Proc., of 3rd Conf. on Matrix Methods in Structural Mechanics, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 557–590.
Goldberg, D. E., and Samtani, M. P. (1986). “Engineering optimization via genetic algorithm.” Proc., Electronic Computation, ASCE, New York, 471–482.
Mahfouz, S. Y. (1999). “Design optimization of structural steelwork.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Bradford, United Kingdom.
Rajeev, S., and Krishnamoorthy, C. S. (1992). “Discrete optimization of structures using genetic algorithms.” J. Struct. Eng., 118(5), 1233–1250.
Schutte, J. J., and Groenwold, A. A. (2003). “Sizing design of truss structures using particle swarms.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 25, 261–269.
Schmit, L. A., and Miura, H. (1976). “A new structural analysis/synthesis capability—ACCESS1.” AIAA J., 14, 661–671.
Surowiecki, J. (2004). The wisdom of crowds: Why the many are smarter than the few and how collective wisdom shapes business, economies, societies, and nations, Doubleday, N.Y.
Venkayya, V. B. (1971). “Design of optimum structures.” Int. J. Comput. Struct., 1, 265–309.
Venkayya, V. B., Knot, N. S., and Reddy, V. S. (1969). “Energy distribution in an optimal structural design.” AFFDL-TR-68-156, Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Wright-Paterson AFB, Ohio.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 7 • July 2007
Pages: 999 - 1008
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 21, 2006
Accepted: Jan 16, 2007
Published online: Jul 1, 2007
Published in print: Jul 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Colby C. Swan
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.