Design optimization of cold-formed steel portal frames taking into account the effect of building topology

Abstract

Cold-formed steel portal frames are a popular form of construction for low-rise commercial, light industrial and agricultural buildings with spans of up to 20 m. In this article, a real-coded genetic algorithm is described that is used to minimize the cost of the main frame of such buildings. The key decision variables considered in this proposed algorithm consist of both the spacing and pitch of the frame as continuous variables, as well as the discrete section sizes. A routine taking the structural analysis and frame design for cold-formed steel sections is embedded into a genetic algorithm. The results show that the real-coded genetic algorithm handles effectively the mixture of design variables, with high robustness and consistency in achieving the optimum solution. All wind load combinations according to Australian code are considered in this research. Results for frames with knee braces are also included, for which the optimization achieved even larger savings in cost

Optimal design of long-span steel portal frames using fabricated beams

“…It has also been observed that using the real coded genetic algorithms, large population sizes are needed in order to obtain the optimum solution consistently [25].…”

Comparison of optimal designs of steel portal frames including topological asymmetry considering rolled, fabricated and tapered sections

“…In order to consider discrete and continuous design variables, special crossover and mutation functions enforce variables to be integers [35]. It has been observed that using the real coded genetic algorithms, large population sizes are needed in order to obtain the optimum solution consistently [36]. To help improve computational efficiency and reliability, solution space reduction and enhanced exploration based on larger initial populations, respectively, are employed here as in [2].…”

Comparative Study on Recent Metaheuristic Algorithms in Design Optimization of Cold-Formed Steel Structures

“…There are not many works on steel frames made of cold-formed sections. In one of the recent study real-coded genetic algorithm is utilized to develop optimum design algorithm for cold-formed steel portal frames which minimizes its cost [19]. The design variables consist of continuous and discrete variables.…”