• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.59-66
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• 2010

This study presents the topology optimization technique by density method to determine the initial shape of space truss structures. Most initial shape design is performed by designer's previous experiences and trial and error method instead of the application of reasonable optimization method. Thus, the reasonable and economical optimization methods are needed to be introduced for the initial shape design. Therefore, we set design domain for cantilever space truss structure as an example model. And topology optimization is used to obtain optimum layout for them, and then size optimization method is used to find the optimum member size. Therefore, the reasonable initial optimal shapes of spatial truss structures can be obtained through the topology and size optimization using density method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.767-776
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• 2019

In this article, a simple and robust multi-objective assessment method to control design angles and node positions connected among steel outrigger truss members is proposed to approve both structural safety and economical cost. For given outrigger member layouts, the present method utilizes general-purpose prototypes of outrigger members, having resistance to withstand lateral load effects directly applied to tall buildings, which conform to variable connecting node and design space deposition. Outrigger layouts are set into several initial design conditions of height to width of an arbitrary given design space, i.e., variable design space. And then they are assessed in terms of a proposed multi-objective function optimizing both minimal total displacement and material quantity subjected to design impact factor indicating the importance of objectives. To evaluate the proposed multi-objective function, an analysis model uses a modified Maxwell-Mohr method, and an optimization model is defined by a ground structure assuming arbitrary discrete straight members. It provides a new robust assessment model from a local design point of view, as it may produce specific optimal prototypes of outrigger layouts corresponding to arbitrary height and width ratio of design space. Numerical examples verify the validity and robustness of the present assessment method for controlling prototypes of outrigger truss members considering a multi-objective optimization achieving structural safety and material cost.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.289-299
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• 2012

The goal of this paper is to apply the multi-step Taylor method to a space truss, a non-linear discrete dynamic system, and analyze the non-linear dynamic response and unstable behavior of the structures. The accurate solution based on an analytical approach is needed to deal with the inverse problem, or the dynamic instability of a space truss, because the governing equation has geometrical non-linearity. Therefore, the governing motion equations of the space truss were formulated by considering non-linearity, where an accurate analytical solution could be obtained using the Taylor method. To verify the accuracy of the applied method, an SDOF model was adopted, and the analysis using the Taylor method was compared with the result of the 4th order Runge-Kutta method. Moreover, the dynamic instability and buckling characteristics of the adopted model under step excitation was investigated. The result of the comparison between the two methods of analysis was well matched, and the investigation shows that the dynamic response and the attractors in the phase space can also delineate dynamic snapping under step excitation, and damping affects the displacement of the truss. The analysis shows that dynamic buckling occurs at approximately 77% and 83% of the static buckling in the undamped and damped systems, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2020

In this paper, the dynamic snapping of the 3-free-nodes spatial truss model was studied. A governing equation was derived considering geometric nonlinearity, and a model with various conditions was analyzed using the fourth order Runge-Kutta method. The dynamic buckling phenomenon was observed in consideration of sensitive changes to the force mode and the initial condition. In addition, the critical load level was analyzed. According to the results of the study, the level of critical buckling load elevated when the shape parameter was high. Parallelly, the same result was caused by the damping term. The sensitive asymmetrical changes showed complex orbits in the phase space, and the critical load level was also becoming lowly. In addition, as the value of damping constant was high, the level of critical load also increases. In particular, the larger the damping constant, the faster it converges to the equilibrium point, and the occurrence of snapping was suppressed.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2012

This study investigates the optimum structural design of space truss considering global buckling, and is to obtain the minimal weight of the structure. The mathematical programming method is used for optimization of each member by member force. Besides, dynamic programming method is adapted for consideration in snap-through buckling. The mathematical modeling for optimum design of truss members consists of objective function of total weight and constrain equations of allowable tensile (or compressive) stress and slenderness. The tangential stiffness matrix is examined to find the critical point on equilibrium path, and a ratio of the buckling load to design load is reflected in iteration procedures of dynamic programming method to adjust the stiffness of space truss. The star dome is examined to verify the proposed optimum design processor. The numerical results of the model are conversed well and satisfied all constrains. This processor is a relatively simple method to carry out optimum design with consideration in global buckling, and is viable in practice with respect to structural design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.1093-1117
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• 2016

Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) has been widely used to investigate the sensitivity of the model output with respect to its input parameters. In this paper a new single-solution search optimization algorithm is developed based on the GSA, and applied to the size optimization of truss structures. In this method the search space of the optimization is determined using the sensitivity indicator of variables. Unlike the common meta-heuristic algorithms, where all the variables are simultaneously changed in the optimization process, in this approach the sensitive variables of solution are iteratively changed more rapidly than the less sensitive ones in the search space. Comparisons of the present results with those of some previous population-based meta-heuristic algorithms demonstrate its capability, especially for decreasing the number of fitness functions evaluations, in solving the presented benchmark problems.

• International Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology Speciallssue:Selected Papers
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2003

This paper presents the results of a post-tensioning test and analysis of a pyramidal unit structure that is basic element for space structures. The behavior characteristics was analyzed and compared with the numerical analysis and the mechanism in test model was confirmed with geometrical analysis. The results of this paper show that the behaviors of space structures can be predicted in multi-directional Mero joint system. And the authors suggest the possibility of erection and shaping formation with comparatively small post-tensioning, and space structure with the mechanism should consider the nonlinear behavior due to large deformation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.879-888
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• 2012

This study aims to apply multistage homotopy perturbation method(MHPM) to space truss composed of discrete members to obtain a semi-analytical solution. For the purpose of this research, a nonlinear governing equation of the structures is formulated in consideration of geometrical nonlinearity, and homotopy equation is derived. The result of carrying out dynamic analysis on a simple model is compared to a numerical method of 4th order Runge-Kutta method(RK4), and the dynamic response by MHPM concurs with the numerical result. Besides, the displacement response and attractor in the phase space is able to delineate dynamic snapping properties under step excitations and the responses of damped system are reflected well the reduction effect of the displacement.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.62-67
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• 2015

A very large shell-structure built in shipyards like ship hulls or offshore structures are joined by welding through full process. As the welding contains a high thermal cycle at a local area, the welded structures should be distorted unavoidably. Because a distorted ship block should be revised to the designed value before the next stage, the ability to predict and to control the weld distortion is an accuracy level of the yard itself. Despite the ship block size, several present thermal distortion methodologies can deal those sizes, but it is a different story to deal full ship size model. Even a fully constructed ship hull not remaining any welding can have an accuracy issue like outfitting installation problems. Any present thermal distortion methodology cannot accept this size for its recommended element size and the number. The ordinary welding breadth at erection stage is about 20~40 mm. It can hardly be a good choice to make finite element model of these sizes considering human effort and computational environment. The finite element model for structure analysis of a ship hull is prepared at front-end engineering design stage which is the first process of the project. The element size of the model is as fine as the longitudinal space, and it is not proper to obtain a weld distortion at the erection stage. In this study, a methodology is suggested that a weldment can be shrunk at original place instead of using structural finite element model. We cut the original shell elements at erection weld-line and put truss elements between the edges of cut elements for weld shrinkage. Additional truss elements are used to facsimile transverse weld shrinkage which cannot be from the weld-line truss element shrink. They attach to weld-line truss element like twigs from barks. The capacity of developed elements is verified through an accuracy check of erection process of a container vessel at the apt. hull. It can be a useful tool for verifying a centering accuracy after renew and for block-separating planning considering accuracy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.379-403
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• 2012

In recent years, the need for optimal design of structures under time-history loading aroused great attention in researchers. The main problem in this field is the extremely high computational demand of time-history analyses, which may convert the solution algorithm to an illogical one. In this paper, a new framework is developed to solve the size optimization problem of steel truss structures subjected to ground motions. In order to solve this problem, the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy algorithm is employed for the optimization procedure, while a generalized regression neural network is utilized as a meta-model for fitness approximation. Moreover, the computational cost of time-history analysis is decreased through a wavelet analysis. Capability and efficiency of the proposed framework is investigated via two design examples, comprising of a tower truss and a footbridge truss.