• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.359-372
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• 1995

This study presents an efficient method for optimum design of plate and shell structures, when the design variables are continuous or discrete. Both sizing and shape design variables are considered. First the structural responses such as element forces are approximated in terms of some intermediate variables. By substituting these approximate relations into the original design problem, an explicit nonlinear approximate design task with high quality approximation is achieved. This problem with continuous variables, can be solved by means of numerical optimization techniques very efficiently, the results of which are then used for discrete variable optimization. Now, the approximate problem is converted into a sequence of second level approximation problems of separable form and each of which is solved by a dual strategy with discrete design variables. The approach is efficient in terms of the number of required structural analyses, as well as the overall computational cost of optimization. Examples are offered and compared with other methods to demonstrate the features of the proposed method.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.351-358
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• 2005

Many methods have been developed and are in use for structural size optimization problems, In which the cross-sectional areas or sizing variables are usually assumed to be continuous. In most practical structural engineering design problems, however, the design variables are discrete. This paper proposes an efficient optimization method for structures with discrete-sized variables based on the harmony search (HS) meta-heuristic algorithm. The recently developed HS algorithm was conceptualized using the musical process of searching for a perfect state of harmony. It uses a stochastic random search instead of a gradient search so that derivative information is unnecessary In this paper, a discrete search strategy using the HS algorithm is presented in detail and its effectiveness and robustness, as compared to current discrete optimization methods, are demonstrated through a standard truss example. The numerical results reveal that the proposed method is a powerful search and design optimization tool for structures with discrete-sized members, and may yield better solutions than those obtained using current method.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.798-806
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• 2003

Structural optimization has been carried out in continuous or discrete design space. Methods for continuous design have been well developed though they are finding the local optima. On the contrary, the existing methods for discrete design are extremely expensive in computational cost or not robust. In this research, an algorithm using tabu search is developed fur the discrete structural designs. The tabu list and the neighbor function of the Tabu concepts are introduced to the algorithm. It defines the number of steps, the maximum number for random searches and the stop criteria. A tabu search is known as the heuristic approach while genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm are attributed to the stochastic approach. It is shown that an algorithm using the tabu search with random moves has an advantage of discrete design. Furthermore, the suggested method finds the reliable optimum for the discrete design problems. The existing tabu search methods are reviewed. Subsequently, the suggested method is explained. The mathematical problems and structural design problems are investigated to show the validity of the proposed method. The results of the structural designs are compared with those from a genetic algorithm and an orthogonal array design.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.254-261
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• 1998

This study presents a discrete optimization of tall steel buildings under multiple drift constraints using a dual method. Dual method can replace the primary optimization problem with a sequence of approximate explicit subproblems. Since each subproblem is convex and separable, it can be efficiently solved by using a dual formulation. Specifically, this study considers the discrete-optimization problem due to the commercial standard steel sections to select member sizes. The results by the proposed method will be compared with those of the conventional optimality criteria method

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06c
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• pp.408-413
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• 2001

The structural optimization is carried out in the continuous design space or discrete design space. Methods for discrete variables such as genetic algorithms are extremely expensive in computational cost. In this research, an iterative optimization algorithm using orthogonal arrays is developed for design in discrete space. An orthogonal array is selected on a discrete design space and levels are selected from candidate values. Matrix experiments with the orthogonal array are conducted. New results of matrix experiments are obtained with penalty functions for constraints. A new design is determined from analysis of means(ANOM). An orthogonal array is defined around the new values and matrix experiments are conducted. The final optimum design is found from iterative process. The suggested algorithm has been applied to various problems such as truss and frame type structures. The results are compared with those from a genetic algorithm and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.127-134
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• 1999

An optimization algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm(GA) is developed for discrete optimization of reinforced concrete plane frame by constructing databases. Under multiple loading conditions, discrete optimum sets of reinforcements for both negative and positive moments in beams, their dimensions, column reinforcement, and their column dimensions are found. Construction practice is also implemented by linking columns and beams by group ‘Connectivity’between columns located in the same column line is also considered. It is shown that the developed genetic algorithm was able to reach optimum design for reinforced concrete plane frame construction practice.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.53-62
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• 2017

Many gradient-based mathematical methods have been developed and are in use for structural size optimization problems, in which the cross-sectional areas or sizing variables are usually assumed to be continuous. In most practical structural engineering design problems, however, the design variables are discrete. The main objective of this paper is to propose an efficient optimization method for structures with discrete-sized variables based on the harmony search (HS) meta-heuristic algorithm that is derived using penalty function. The recently developed HS algorithm was conceptualized using the musical process of searching for a perfect state of harmony. It uses a stochastic random search instead of a gradient search so that derivative information is unnecessary. In this paper, a discrete search strategy using the HS algorithm with a static penalty function is presented in detail and its applicability using several standard truss examples is discussed. The numerical results reveal that the HS algorithm with the static penalty function proposed in this study is a powerful search and design optimization technique for structures with discrete-sized members.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.27-37
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• 2020

Structural optimization problems with discrete design variables require more function calculations (or finite element analyses) than those in the continuous design space. In this study, a method to find an optimal solution in the discrete design of the truss structure is presented, reducing the number of function calculations. Because a continuous optimal solution is the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker point that satisfies the optimality condition, it is assumed that the discrete optimal solution is around the continuous optimum. Then, response values such as weight, displacement, and stress are predicted using approximate models-referred to as hybrid metamodels-within specified design ranges. The discrete design method using the hybrid metamodels is used as a post-process of the continuous optimization process. Standard truss design problems of 10-bar, 25-bar, 15-bar, and 52-bar are solved to show the usefulness of this method. The results are compared with those of existing methods.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.255-263
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• 1997

The optimum design of most structural systems used in practice requires considering design variables as discrete quantities. The present paper shows that the linear approximation method is very effective as a tool for the discrete optimum designs of unsymmetric composite laminates. The formulated design problem is subjected to a multiple in-plane loading condition due to shear and axial forces, bending and twisting moments, which is controlled by maximum strain criterion for each of the plys of a composite laminate. As an initial approach, the process of continuous variable optimization by FDM is required only once in operating discrete optimization. The nonlinear discrete optimization problem that has the discrete and continuous variables is transformed into the mixed integer programming problem by SLDP. In numerical examples, the discrete optimum solutions for the unsymmetric composite laminates consisted of six plys according to rotated stacking sequence were found, and then compared the results with the nonlinear branch and bound method to verify the efficiency of present method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.537-550
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• 2017

Structural sizing is a rewarding task due to its non-convex constrained nature in the design space. In order to provide both global exploration and proper search refinement, a hybrid method is developed here based on outstanding features of Evolutionary Computing and Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization. The new method introduces an observer phase for memory exploitation in addition to vector-sum movements in the original teacher and learner phases. Proper integer coding is suited and applied for structural size optimization together with a fly-to-boundary technique and an elitism strategy. Performance of the proposed method is further evaluated treating a number of truss examples compared with teaching-learning-based optimization. The results show enhanced capability of the method in efficient and stable convergence toward the optimum and effective capturing of high quality solutions in discrete structural sizing problems.