• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2017

In the study, dynamic behavior of laminated orthotropic beams on elastic foundation is investigated. Consistent model presented here combines the finite element solution of the system with SAP2000 software and the calculation of soil parameters with MATLAB software using Modified Vlasov Model type elastic foundation. For this purpose, a computing tool is coded in MATLAB which employs Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI) feature of SAP2000 to provide two-way data flow during execution. Firstly, an example is taken from the literature to demonstrate the accuracy of the consistent FEM-Vlasov Model. Subsequently, the effects of boundary conditions, subsoil depth, elasticity modulus of subsoil, slenderness ratio, velocity of moving load and lamination scheme on the behavior of laminated orthotropic beams on elastic foundation are investigated on a new numerical example. It can be concluded that it is really convenient to use OAPI feature of SAP2000 to model this complex behavior of laminated orthotropic beams on elastic foundation under moving load.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.733-744
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• 2016

In this study, optimum structural designs of braced (non-swaying) planar steel frames are investigated by using one of the recent meta-heuristic search techniques, teaching-learning based optimization. Optimum design problems are performed according to American Institute of Steel Construction- Allowable Stress Design (AISC-ASD) specifications. A computer program is developed in MATLAB interacting with SAP2000 OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface) to conduct optimization procedures. Optimum cross sections are selected from a specified list of 128W profiles taken from AISC. Two different braced planar frames taken from literature are carried out for stress, geometric size, displacement and inter-storey drift constraints. It is concluded that teaching-learning based optimization presents robust and applicable optimum solutions in multi-element structural problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.607-615
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• 2017

This study presents optimum design of plane steel bridges considering corrosion effect by using teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO) method. Optimum solutions of three different bridge problems are linearly carried out including and excluding corrosion effect. The member cross sections are selected from a pre-specified list of 128 W profiles taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). A computer program is coded in MATLAB to carry out optimum design interacting with SAP2000 using OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface). The stress constraints are incorporated as indicated in AISC Allowable Stress Design (ASD) specifications and also displacement constraints are applied in optimum design. The results obtained from analysis show that the corrosion effect on steel profile surfaces causes a crucial increase on the minimum steel weight of bridges. Moreover, the results show that the method proposed is applicable and robust to reach the destination even for complex problems.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2018

The paper focuses on the seismic responses of a hyperbolic cooling tower resting on soil foundation represented by the three-parameter Vlasov elastic soil model. The three-parameter soil model eliminates the necessity of field testing to determine soil parameters such as reaction modulus and shear parameter. These parameters are calculated using an iterative procedure depending on the soil surface vertical deformation profile in the model. The soil and tower system are modeled in SAP2000 structural analysis program using a computing tool coded in MATLAB. The tool provides a two-way data transfer between SAP2000 and MATLAB with the help of Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI) feature of SAP2000. The response spectrum analyses of the tower system with circular V-shaped supporting columns and annular raft foundation on elastic soil are conducted thanks to the coded tool. The shell and column forces and displacements are presented for different soil conditions and fixed raft base condition to investigate the effects of soil-structure interaction. Numerical results indicate that the flexibility of soil foundation leads to an increase in displacements but a decrease in shell membrane and column forces. Therefore, it can be stated that the consideration of soil-structure interaction in the seismic response analysis of the cooling tower system provides an economical design process.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.853-862
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• 2020

In recent years, due to the many advantages cable-stayed bridges have often constructed in medium and long span. These advantages can be listed as an aesthetically pleasing appearance, economic and easy construction, etc. The main structural elements of cable-stayed bridges are listed as deck, pylon, cables and foundation. Perhaps one of the most vital and expensive of these structural elements is stay-cables. Stay-cables ensure the allowable displacement and distribution of bending moments along the bridge deck with prestressing force. Therefore the optimum design of the stay-cables and prestressing force are very important in achieving the performance expected from the cable-stayed bridges. This paper aims to obtain the stay-cables size and prestressing force optimization of the cable-stayed bridge. For this purpose, single pylon and fan type cable configuration Manavgat Cable-Stayed Bridge was selected as an example. The three dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) of the bridge was created with SAP2000. Analysis of the 3D FEM of the bridge was conducted under the different combined effects of the self-weight of the structural element, prestressing force of stay-cable and live load. Stay-cable stress and deck displacement were taken into account as constraints for the optimization problem. To optimize this existing bridge a metaheuristic algorithm named Jaya was used in the optimization process. 3D FEM of the selected bridge was repeatedly analyzed by using Open Applicable Programming Interface (OAPI) properties of SAP2000. To carry out the optimization process the developed program which integrates the Jaya algorithm and the required codes for calling SAP2000 is coded in MATLAB. At the end of the study, the total weight of the stay-cables was reduced more than 40% according to existing stay cables under loads taken into account.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

This study investigates optimum designs of steel space truss towers under seismic loading by using Jaya optimization algorithm. Turkish Earthquake Code (2007) specifications are applied on optimum designs of steel space truss towers under the seismic loading for different local site classes depending on different soil groups. The proposed novel algorithm does not have any algorithm-specific control parameters and depends only a simple revision equation. Therefore, it provides a practical solution for structural optimization problems. Optimum solutions of the different steel truss examples are carried out by selecting suitable W sections taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). In order to obtain optimum solutions, a computer program is coded in MATLAB in corporated with SAP2000-OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface). The stress and displacement constraints are applied on the design problems according to AISC-ASD (Allowable Stress Design) specifications. Firstly, a benchmark truss problem is examined to see the efficiency of Jaya optimization algorithm. Then, two different multi-element truss towers previously solved with other methods without seismic loading in literature are designed by the proposed algorithm. The first space tower is a 582-member space truss with the height of 80 m and the second space tower is a 942-member space truss of about 95 m height. The minimum optimum designs obtained with this novel algorithm for the case without seismic loading are lighter than the ones previously attained in the literature studies. The results obtained in the study show that Jaya algorithm is a practical and robust optimization method for structural optimization problems. Moreover, incorporation of the seismic loading causes significant increase in the minimum design weight.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.617-633
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• 2016

In this paper, the analysis of hyperbolic cooling tower on elastic subsoil exposed to unsymmetrical wind loading is presented. Modified Vlasov foundation model is used to determine the soil parameters as a function of vertical deformation profile within subsoil. The iterative parameter updating procedure involves the use of Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI) feature of SAP2000 to provide two way data flow during execution. A computing tool coded in MATLAB employing OAPI is used to perform the analysis of hyperbolic cooling tower with supporting columns over a hollow annular raft founded on elastic subsoil. The analysis of such complex soil-structure system is investigated under self-weight and unsymmetrical wind load. The response of the cooling tower on elastic subsoil is compared with that of a tower that its supporting raft foundation is treated as fixed at the base. The results show that the effect of subsoil on the behavior of cooling tower is considerable at the top and bottom of the wall as well as supporting columns and raft foundation. The application of a full-size cooling tower has demonstrated that the procedure is simple, fast and can easily be implemented in practice.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.597-612
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• 2016

This paper presents an optimization process using Harmony Search Algorithm for minimum weight of steel space frames under earthquake effects according to Turkish Earthquake Code (2007) specifications. The optimum designs are carried out by selecting suitable sections from a specified list including W profiles taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The stress constraints obeying AISC-Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, lateral displacement constraints and geometric constraints are considered in the optimum designs. A computer program is coded in MATLAB for the purpose to incorporate with SAP2000 OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface) to perform structural analysis of the frames under earthquake loads. Three different steel space frames are carried out for four different seismic earthquake zones defined in Turkish Earthquake Code (2007). Results obtained from the examples show the applicability and robustness of the method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.521-535
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• 2016

A Harmony Search (HS) and Genetic Algorithms (GA), two powerful metaheuristic search techniques, are used for minimum weight designs of different truss structures by selecting suitable profile sections from a specified list taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). A computer program is coded in MATLAB interacting with SAP2000-OAPI to obtain solution of design problems. The stress constraints according to AISC-ASD (Allowable Stress Design) and displacement constraints are considered for optimum designs. Three different truss structures such as bridge, dome and tower structures taken from literature are designed and the results are compared with the ones available in literature. The results obtained from the solutions for truss structures show that optimum designs by these techniques are very similar to the literature results and HS method usually provides more economical solutions in multi-element truss problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 2020

The effect of soil foundation plays active role in optimum design of steel space frames when included. However, its influence on design can be calculated after a long iterative procedure. So it requires longer computer time and more computational effort if it is done properly. The main purpose of this study is to investigate how these effects can be calculated in more practical way in a shorter time. The effects of semi-rigid column bases are taken into account in optimum design of steel space frames. This study is carried out by using JAYA algorithm which is a novel and practical method based on a single revision equation. The displacement, stress and geometric size constraints are considered in the optimum design. A computer program is coded in MATLAB to achieve corporation with SAP2000-OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface) for optimum solutions. Four different steel space frames including soil structure interaction taken from literature are investigated according to different semi-rigidly supported models depending on different rotational stiffness values. And the results obtained from analyses are compared with the results available in reference studies. The results of the study show that semi-rigidly supported systems in the range of appropriate rotational stiffness values offer practical solutions in a very short time. And close agreement is obtained with the studies on optimum design of steel space frames including soil effect underneath.