No abstract

Water distribution networks are considered as the most important entity in the urban infrastructure system and need huge investment for construction. The inherent problem associated with cost optimisation in the design of water distribution networks is due to the nonlinear relationship between flow and head loss and availability of the discrete nature of pipe sizes. In the last few decades, many researchers focused on several stochastic methods of optimisation algorithms. The present paper is focused on the Differential Evolution algorithm (henceforth referred to as DE) and utilises a similar concept as the genetic algorithm to achieve a goal of optimisation of the specified objective function. A simulation–optimisation model is developed in which the optimization is done by DE. Four well-known benchmark networks were taken for application of the DE algorithm to optimise pipe size and rehabilitation of the water distribution network. The findings of the present study reveal that DE is a good alternative to the genetic algorithm and other heuristic approaches for optimal sizing of water distribution pipes.

Reducing the weight of concrete beams is a primary (beyond strength and durability) concern of engineers. Therefore, this research was directed to investigate the impact response of hammerhead pier concrete beams designed with density-based method topology optimization. The finite element topology optimization was conducted using Autodesk fusion 360 considering three different mesh sizes of 7 mm, 10 mm, and adaptive meshing. Three optimized hammerhead beam configurations; HB1, HB2, and HB3, respectively, with volume reductions greater than 50 %. In the experimental part of this research, nine beams were cast with identical size and configuration to the optimized beams. Three beams, identical to the optimized beams, were tested under static bending for verification purposes. In comparison, six more beams, as in the preceding three beams but without and with hooked end steel fibers, were tested under repeated impact load. The test results revealed that the highest flexural capacity and impact resistance at crack initiation and failure were recorded for the adaptive mesh beams (HB3 and HB3SF). The failure impact energy and ductility ratio of the beam HB3SF was higher than the beams HB1SF and HB2SF by more than 270 %. The results showed that the inclusion of steel fiber duplicated the optimized beam’s impact strength and ductility several times. The failure impact resistance of fibrous beams was higher than their corresponding plain beams by approximately 2300 to4460 %, while their impact ductility ratios were higher by 6.0 to 18.1 times.

No abstract

No abstract