• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.237-250
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• 2003

Since an orthotropic steel deck bridge has large number of design variables and shows complex structural behavior, it would be very difficult and impractical to directly use a Conventional Single Level (CSL) optimization algorithm for its optimum design. Thus, in this paper, an Improved Multi Level Design Synthesis (IMLDS) optimization algorithm is proposed to improve the computational efficiency. In the proposed IMLDS algorithm, a coordination method is introduced to divide the bridge into main girders and orthotropic steel deck with preserving the characteristics of the structural behavior. For an efficient optimization of the bridge, the IMLDS algorithm incorporates the various crucial approximation techniques such as constraints deletion, Automatic Differentiation (AD), stress reanalysis, and etc. In the case of orthotropic steel deck system, optimum design problems are characterized by mixed continuous discrete variables and discontinuous design space. Thus, a modified Genetic Algorithm (GA) is also applied to optimize discrete member design for orthotropic steel deck. From the numerical example, the efficiency and convergency of the IMLDS algorithm proposed in this paper is investigated. It may be positively stated that the IMLDS algorithm will lead to more effective and practical design compared with previous algorithms.