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Computational Science, Engineering & Technology Series
ISSN 1759-3158
CSETS: 3
COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Edited by: B.H.V. Topping
Chapter 21

Advances in Computational Methods for Large-Scale Structural Optimization

M. Papadrakakis and N.D. Lagaros

Institute of Structural Analysis and Seismic Research, National Technical University, Athens, Greece

Full Bibliographic Reference for this chapter
M. Papadrakakis, N.D. Lagaros, "Advances in Computational Methods for Large-Scale Structural Optimization", in B.H.V. Topping, (Editor), "Computational Mechanics for the Twenty-First Century", Saxe-Coburg Publications, Stirlingshire, UK, Chapter 21, pp 431-449, 2000. doi:10.4203/csets.3.21
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to perform structural optimization under seismic loading. Combinatorial optimization methods and in particular algorithms based on evolution strategies (ESs) are implemented for the solution of large-scale structural optimization problems under seismic loading. In this work the efficiency of a rigorous approach in treating dynamic loading is investigated and compared with a simplified dynamic analysis in the framework of finding the optimum design of a structure with the minimum weight. In this context a number of accelerograms are produced from the design spectrum of the region. These accelerograms constitute the multiple loading conditions under which the structures are optimally designed. This approach is compared with an approximate design approach based on simplifications adopted by the seismic codes. The results obtained for a characteristic test problem indicate a substantial improvement m the final design when the proposed optimization procedure is implemented.

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