• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.19-26
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• 2010

This study was conducted to find out the reasonable optimum design method of agricultural reinforced concrete structures. Selected design variables are the dimension of concrete section, reinforced steel area, and objective function is formulated by cost function. To test the reliability, efficiency, possibility of application and reasonability of optimum design method, both continuous optimization method and mixed-discrete optimization method were applied to the design of reinforced concrete superstructure of aqueduct and application results were discussed. It is proved that mixed-discrete optimization method is more reliable, efficient and reasonable than continuous optimization method for the optimum design of reinforced concrete agricultural structures.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.49-56
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• 2010

This study was conducted to find out the best optimum design method for the design of reinforced concrete agricultural aqueduct abutment and pier structures. The mixed-discrete optimization and continuous optimization method were applied to the design of reinforced concrete agricultural aqueduct abutment and pier and the results of these optimization methods were compared each other. It is proved that mixed-discrete optimization method is more reliable, efficient and reasonable than continuous optimization method for the optimum design of the reinforced concrete agricultural aqueduct abutment and pier.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2017

This paper presents a generalized formulation for optimizing the design of concrete beam reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer bar. The optimization method is formulated to find the design variables leading to the minimum weight of concrete beam with constraints imposed based on ACI code provisions. A simple genetic algorithm is utilized to solve the optimization task. The weights of concrete and glass fiber reinforced polymer bar are included in the formulation of the objective function. The ultimate limit states and the serviceability limit states are included in formulation of constraints. The results of illustrated example demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method to reduce the weight of beam as well as to satisfy the above requirement. The application of the optimization based on the most economical design concept have led to significant savings in the amount of the component materials to be used in comparison to classical design solutions.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.253-270
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• 2013

The aim of the present paper is to show the application of optimization strategies for the cost of beams in reinforced concrete buildings and to propose pre-sizing parameters. In order for these goals to be met, an optimization software program was developed. The program combines the analysis of structures by the grid model, reinforced concrete sizing, and the simulated annealing optimization heuristic. Sizing is compliant with the NBR 6118 (2007) Brazilian standard, according to which flexural, shearing, torsion, and web reinforcements and serviceability limit states (deflection and crack width limitation) are checked. Besides the dimensions of the situations mentioned above, the influence the cost of each material (steel, concrete and formwork) has on the overall cost of structures was also determined.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2002

In this paper, the shape optimization is considered over the upper slab of reinforced concrete culvert. The sequential linear programming method (SLP) is used as a rational approach to this shape optimization. To make a comparison between the arch shaped member and the straight member for the upper slab, the culverts with 5~20m earth height were adopted. It is shown that the optimum rise/span is about 7%-13%, and the arch shaped member is more cheap (over 10%) than the straight member for the construction cost.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-141
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• 2022

In this paper, a numerical procedure is proposed for achieving the minimum cost design of reinforced concrete polygonal column cross-sections under compression and biaxial bending. A methodology is developed to integrate the metaheuristic algorithm Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization (QPSO) with an algorithm for the evaluation of the strength of reinforced concrete cross-sections under combined axial load and biaxial bending, according to the design criteria of Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014. The objective function formulation takes into account the costs of concrete, reinforcement, and formwork. The cross-section dimensions, the number and diameter of rebar and the concrete strength are taken as discrete design variables. This methodology is applied to polygonal cross-sections, such as rectangular sections, rectangular hollow sections, and L-shaped cross-sections. To evaluate the efficiency of the methodology, the optimal solutions obtained were compared to results reported by other authors using conventional methods or alternative optimization techniques. An additional study investigates the effect on final costs for an alternative parametrization of rebar positioning on the cross-section. The proposed optimization method proved to be efficient in the search for optimal solutions, presenting consistent results that confirm the importance of using optimization techniques in the design of reinforced concrete structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.761-786
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• 2016

This paper proposes an automated procedure for optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures. This procedure combines a smart pre-processing using a Tree Classification Method (TCM) and a nonlinear optimization technique. First, the TCM automatically creates sections database and assigns sections to structural members. Subsequently, a real valued model of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed in solving the optimization problem. Numerical examples on design optimization of three low- to high-rise RC frame structures under earthquake loads are presented with and without considering strong column-weak beam (SCWB) constraint. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the TCMin seismic design optimization of the structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.763-783
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• 2016

A methodology based on Teaching Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm is proposed for optimum design of reinforced concrete retaining walls. The objective function is to minimize total material cost including concrete and steel per unit length of the retaining walls. The requirements of the American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-05-Building code requirements for structural concrete) are considered for reinforced concrete (RC) design. During the optimization process, totally twenty-nine design constraints composed from stability, flexural moment capacity, shear strength capacity and RC design requirements such as minimum and maximum reinforcement ratio, development length of reinforcement are checked. Comparing to other nature-inspired algorithm, TLBO is a simple algorithm without parameters entered by users and self-adjusting ranges without intervention of users. In numerical examples, a retaining wall taken from the documented researches is optimized and the several effects (backfill slope angle, internal friction angle of retaining soil and surcharge load) on the optimum results are also investigated in the study. As a conclusion, TLBO based methods are feasible.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.327-340
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• 2012

The search for a design that meets both performance and safety, with minimal cost and lesser environmental impact was always the goal of structural engineers. In general, the design of conventional reinforced concrete structures is an iterative process based on rules of thumb established from the personal experience and intuition of the designer. However, such procedure makes the design process exhaustive and only occasionally leads to the best solution. In such context, this work presents the development and implementation of a mathematical formulation for obtaining optimal sections of reinforced concrete columns subjected to uniaxial flexural compression, based on the verification of strength proposed by the Brazilian standard NBR 6118 (ABNT 2007). To minimize the cost of the reinforced concrete columns, the Simulated Annealing optimization method was used, in which the amount and diameters of the reinforcement bars and the dimensions of the columns cross sections were considered as discrete variables. The results obtained were compared to those obtained from the conventional design procedure and other optimization methods, in an attempt to verify the influence of resistance class, variations in the magnitudes of bending moment and axial force, and material costs on the optimal design of reinforced concrete columns subjected to uniaxial flexural compression.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.317-330
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• 2007

Steel reinforced concrete is perhaps the most versatile and widely used construction material. The versatility is attributed to mouldability of concrete to any conceivable shape. The inherent property of cracking of concrete is the reason for its low tensile strength and hence the design approach of RCC sections in flexure adopts the cracked section theory where in concrete in tension zone is ignored. Means, modes and methods of exploitation of concrete strength by conceiving shapes other than rectangular whereby ineffective concrete in tension zone is reduced and incorporated in compression zone where it is effective needs consideration. Shape optimization of beams is attempted in this analytical investigation employing Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Technique (SUMT). The results clearly show that trapezoidal beams happen to be less costlier than their rectangular counterparts, their usage needs serious reconsideration by the designers.