• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.579-590
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• 2022

One of the biggest problems in structural steel calculation is the design of structures using the lowest possible material weight, making this a slow and costly process. To achieve this objective, several optimization methods have been developed and tested. Nevertheless, a method that performs very efficiently when applied to different problems is not yet available. Based on this assumption, this work proposes a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm for geometric and dimensional optimization of space trusses, called Simulated Squirrel Search Algorithm, which consists of an association of the well-established neighborhood shifting algorithm (Simulated Annealing) with a recently developed promising population algorithm (Squirrel Search Algorithm, or SSA). In this study, two models are tried, being respectively, a classical model from the literature (25-bar space truss) and a roof system composed of space trusses. The structures are subjected to resistance and displacement constraints. A penalty function using Fuzzy Logic (FL) is investigated. Comparative analyses are performed between the Squirrel Search Algorithm (SSSA) and other optimization methods present in the literature. The results obtained indicate that the proposed method can be competitive with other heuristics.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.69-76
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• 2019

A stadium roof that uses the pin-jointed spatial truss system has to be designed by taking into account the unstable phenomenon due to the geometrical non-linearity of the long span. This phenomenon is mainly studied in the single-free-node model (SFN) or double-free-node model (DFN). Unlike the simple SFN model, the more complex DFN model has a higher order of characteristic equations, making analysis of the system's stability complicated. However, various symmetric conditions can allow limited analysis of these problems. Thus, this research looks at the stability of the DFN model which is assumed to be symmetric in shape, and its load and equilibrium state. Its governing system is expressed by nonlinear differential equations to show the double Duffing effect. To investigate the dynamic behavior and characteristics, we normalize the system of the model in terms of space and time. The equilibrium points of the system unloaded or symmetrically loaded are calculated exactly. Furthermore, the stability of these points via the roots of the characteristic equation of a Jacobian matrix are classified.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.76-83
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• 2010

Metallic sandwich panels with pyramidal truss structures are high-stiffness and high-strength materials with low weight. In particular, bulk structures have enough space for additional multi-functionalities. In this work, in order to fabricate 3-D structures efficiently, Layered Manufacturing Method (LMM) which was composed of three steps, including crimping process, stacking process and bonding process using rapid infrared brazing, was proposed. The joining time was drastically reduced by employing infrared brazing of which heating rate and cooling rate were faster than those of conventional furnace brazing. By controlling the initial cooling rate slowly, the bonding strength was improved up to the level of strength by conventional vacuum brazing. The observation of infrared brazed specimens by optical microscope and SEM showed no defect on the joining sections. The experiments of 1-layered pyramidal structures and 2-layered pyramidal structures subject to 3-point bending were conducted to determine structural advantages of multilayered structures. From the results, the multi-layered structure has superior mechanical properties to the single-layered structure.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.53-57
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• 2003

Optimum design of most structural system requires that design variables are regarded as discrete quantities. This paper presents the use of Genetic Algorithm for determining the optimum design for truss with discrete variables. Genetic Algorithm are know as heuristic search algorithms, and are effective global search methods for discrete optimization. In this paper, Elitism and the method of conferring penalty parameters in the design variables, in order to achieve improved fitness in the reproduction process, is used in the Genetic Algorithm. A 10-Bar plane truss and a 25-Bar space truss are used for discrete optimization. These structures are designed for stress and displacement constraints, but buckling is not considered. In particular, we obtain continuous solution using Genetic Algorithms for a 10-bar truss, compared with other results. The effectiveness of Genetic Algorithms for global optimization is demonstrated through two truss examples.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.7 no.3 s.25
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• pp.79-86
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• 2007

Recently, as steel structures become higher and more long-spanned, construction of high-strength steels is increasing gradually. Application of high-strength steel can be possible to make a more light and economic steel structures by reducing thickness and space. To apply a high-strength steel to structure, criteria of high-strength steel for buckling is required. However, current specification is not sufficient for criteria of high-strength steels. In this paper, buckling behavior of high-strength steel truss columns with box sections is investigated by using three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite deformation analysis program. The criteria equation for allowable compressive stress of high-strength steel truss columns with box sections is proposed and confirmed the applicability. It is reasonable form analytical results that formulated equations after finding the upper limit of allowable axial direction compression stresses of high-strength steel truss columns. And new equation is suitable to buckling design of high-strength steel truss columns.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 2018

U-flanged truss beam is composed of u-shaped upper steel flange, lower steel plate of 8mm or more thickness, and connecting lattice bars. Upper flange and lower plate are connected by the diagonal lattice bars welded on the upper and lower sides. In this study the structural experiments on the U-flanged truss beams with various shapes of upper flange were performed, and the flexural and shear capacities of U-flanged truss beam in the construction stage were evaluated. The principal test parameters were the shape of upper flange and the alignment space of diagonal lattice bars. In all the test specimens, the peak loads were determined by the buckling of lattice bar regardless of the upper flange shape. The test results have shown that the buckling of lattice bar is very important design factor and there is no need to reinforce the basic u-shaped upper flange. However, the early lattice buckling occurred in the truss beam with upper steel bars because of the insufficient strength and stiffness of upper chord, and the reinforcement in the upper chord is necessary. The formulae of Eurocode 3 (2005) have presented more exact evaluations of lattice buckling load than those of KBC 2016.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.68-76
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• 2022

The purpose of this paper was to design the cable networks for mesh reflector antennas, considering the flexibility of structures. An effective form-find methodology is proposed. The whole parts of the cable networks are described by the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. Additionally, nonlinear deformation of the cable can be obtained. The form-finding analysis of the reflector with standard configuration is performed, to validate the proposed methodology. The truss ring structure is numerically modeled using the frame elements. To consider the flexibility of the truss ring as well as the cable net structure, an iteration analysis between the truss ring and the cable net under tensional forces is also performed in the form-finding process. The finial configuration of the reflector with tensioned cable networks is demonstrated.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.481-489
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• 2011

In this paper presents new force method by using singular value decomposition. The existing force method has some advantages about analysis of truss structures such as it is easier basic concept than finite element method, which apply to analyze truss structures. However, this method has complex formulation for analysis. Therefore, in this study proposes new force method using singular value decomposition, which is both having easy basic concept and simple computation than existing force method. The proposed method is illustrated through numerical examples.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.603-617
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• 2022

Structural design, in general, is developed through trial and error technique which is guided by standards criteria and based on the intuition and experience of the engineer, a context that leads to structural over-dimensioning, with uneconomic solutions. Aiming to find the optimal design, structural optimization methods have been developed to find a balance between cost, structural safety, and material performance. These methods have become a great opportunity in the steel structural engineering domain since they have as their main purpose is weight minimization, a factor directly correlated to the real cost of the structure. Assuming an objective function of minimum weight with stress and displacement constraints provided by Brazilian standards, the present research proposes the sizing optimization and combined approach of sizing and shape optimization, through a software developed to implement the Simulated Annealing metaheuristic algorithm. Therefore, two steel plane frame layouts, each admitting four typical truss geometries, were proposed in order to expose the difference between the optimal solutions. The assessment of the optimal solutions indicates a notable weight reduction, especially in sizing and shape optimization combination, in which the quantity of design variables is increased along with the search space, improving the efficiency of the optimal solutions achieved.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.715-725
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• 2018

Truss-Z (TZ) is an Extremely Modular System (EMS). Such systems allow for creation of structurally sound free-form structures, are comprised of as few types of modules as possible, and are not constrained by a regular tessellation of space. Their objective is to create spatial structures in given environments connecting given terminals without self-intersections and obstacle-intersections. TZ is a skeletal modular system for creating free-form pedestrian ramps and ramp networks. The previous research on TZ focused on global discrete geometric optimization of the spatial configuration of modules. This paper reports on the first attempts at structural optimization of the module for a single-branch TZ. The internal topology and the sizing of module beams are subject to optimization. An important challenge is that the module is to be universal: it must be designed for the worst case scenario, as defined by the module position within a TZ branch and the geometric configuration of the branch itself. There are four variations of each module, and the number of unique TZ configurations grows exponentially with the branch length. The aim is to obtain minimum-mass modules with the von Mises equivalent stress constrained under certain design load. The resulting modules are further evaluated also in terms of the typical structural criterion of compliance.