Structural design optimization usually aims to extract more function from less material. This can result in more failure modes designed against their limits, thus reducing safety. The compromise between cost reduction and safety is particularly relevant for geotechnical structures, as they are subject to significant scatter and uncertainties in their properties. In this context, this paper presents an application of Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) for the problem of geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining walls. Design variables include the mean strength of the geosynthetic, spacing between reinforcements, and the length of the geosynthetic. Random variables include soil angle of friction, soil unit weight, the strength of the geosynthetic and the friction angle between the reinforcement and soil mass. The solution procedure proposed herein combines the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm with the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) algorithm, which results in nested optimization loops. Results show that significant savings can be achieved in structural design without hindering structural safety.
Otimização de projetos de muros de solo reforçado com geossintéticos considerando a incerteza de modelo e a teoria de confiabilidade São Carlos 2022 MARCELL GUSTAVO CHAGAS SANTOS Otimização de projetos de muros de solo reforçado com geossintéticos considerando a incerteza de modelo e a teoria de confiabilidade VERSÃO CORRIGIDA Original encontra-se disponível na unidade que aloja o programa
This paper presents a study of the effects caused by soil-structure interaction in reinforced concrete wall building on shallow foundation. It was verified the influence of displacements of supports on the redistribution of internal forces in the structural walls and in the redistribution of loads on the foundation. The superstructure was represented by shell finite elements and the soil-structure interaction was evaluated by iterative methods that consider the stiffness of the building, the soil heterogeneity and the group effect of foundation elements. An alternative model that considers the soil-structure interaction is adopted and the concrete walls are simulated by bar elements. The results indicate that the soil-structure interaction produces significant changes of the stress flow, with larger influences on the lower walls, as well as a tendency of settlements standardization and load migration to supports with smaller settlements.
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