New Approach for Discrete Structural Optimization
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 114, Issue 5
Abstract
A new approach for selecting optimum members in steel frames from standard hot‐rolled sections is illustrated. The approach is applied to an example 8‐story, 3‐bay planar frame subjected to vertical and horizontal loads. In the example, optimum members are defined as those which minimize total frame weight while satisfying combined stress constraints under specified loading conditions. The approach computes the discrete optimum from the continuous optimum. It is implemented as a pre‐ and post‐processor to state‐of‐the‐art nonlinear continuous optimization algorithms. The approach is general, robust, and efficient in that a minimum number of structural analyses are required. The approach uses a convex hull generation algorithm, nonlinear programming algorithms, linearization, and a variation on the branch and bound method. The approach does not require the standard sections to be ordered in any way, nor does it require any approximate relationships between section properties.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Manual of steel construction. (1980). American Institute of Steel Construction, 8th edition, Chicago, Ill.
2.
Cella, A., and Logcher, R. D. (1971). “Automated optimum design from discrete components.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 97(1), 175–189.
3.
Geoffrion, A. M. (1967). “Integer programming by implicit enumeration and Balas' method.” Soc. Indust. and Appl Math. Review, 9(2), 178–190.
4.
Gomory, R. E. (1960). “An algorithm for the mixed integer problem.” Report No. P‐1885, The Rand Corp., Santa Monica, Calif.
5.
Gorman, M. R. (1984). “Optimum structural design by implicit enumeration.” Proc. 3rd Conf. on Computing in Civ. Engrg., ASCE, San Diego, Calif., April, 675–681.
6.
Gupta, O. K., and Ravindran, A. (1983). “Nonlinear integer programming and discrete optimization.” ASME J. of Mechanisms, Transmissions, and Automation in Design, 105(2), 160–164.
7.
Hua, H. M. (1983). “Optimization for structures of discrete‐sized elements.” Computers and Structures, 17(3), 327–333.
8.
Lai, Y.‐S., and Achenbach, J. D. (1973). “Direct search optimization method.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 98(ST1), 19–31.
9.
Levy, R., and Lev, O. E. (1987). “Recent developments in structural optimization.” J. Struct. Engrg., 113(9), 1,939–1,962.
10.
Liebman, J. S., Khachaturian, N., and Chanaratna, V. (1981). “Discrete structural optimization.” J. of Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 107(1), 2,177–2,197.
11.
Parkinson, A. R., Balling, R. J., and Free, J. C. (1984). “OPTDES.BYU: A software system for optimal engineering design.” ASME Int. Computers in Engrg. Conf., Aug., Las Vegas, N.V.
12.
Reinschmidt, K. F. (1971). “Discrete structural optimization.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 97(1), 133–156.
13.
Schmit, L. A. (1981). “Structural synthesis—Its genesis and development.” AIAA Journal, 19(10).
14.
Schmit, L. A., and Miura, H. (1976). “Approximation concepts for efficient structural synthesis.” NASA CR‐2552, Mar.
15.
Toakley, R. (1968). “Optimum design using available sections.” J. Struct. Engrg., 34(ST5), 1,219–1,241.
16.
Vanderplaats, G. N. (1982). “Structural optimization—Past, present and future.” AIAA Journal, 20(7), 992–1,000.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 114 • Issue 5 • May 1988
Pages: 1120 - 1134
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1988
Published in print: May 1988
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.