• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2013

Current methods of analysis of trusses depend on matrix formulations based on equilibrium equations which are in fact derived from energy principles, and compatibility conditions. Recently it has been shown that the minimum energy principle, by itself, in its pure and unmodified form, can well be exploited to analyze structures when coupled with an optimization algorithm, specifically with a meta-heuristic algorithm. The resulting technique that can be called Total Potential Optimization using Meta-heuristic Algorithms (TPO/MA) has already been applied to analyses of linear and nonlinear plane trusses successfully as coupled with simulated annealing and local search algorithms. In this study the technique is applied to both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional trusses emphasizing robustness, reliability and accuracy. The trials have shown that the technique is robust in two senses: all runs result in answers, and all answers are acceptable as to the reliability and accuracy within the prescribed limits. It has also been shown that Harmony Search presents itself as an appropriate algorithm for the purpose.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.345-360
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• 1999

A general framework for the nonlinear geometric analysis of elastic space trusses is presented. Both total Lagrangian and finite incremental formulations are derived from the three key ingredients of statics, kinematics and constitutive law. Particular features of the general methodology include the preservation of static-kinematic duality through the concept of fictitious forces and deformations, and an exact description for arbitrarily large displacements, albeit small strain, that can be specialized to any order of geometrical nonlinearity. As for the numerical algorithm, we consider specifically the finite incremental case and suggest the use of a conventional, simple and flexible arc-length based method. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate and validate the accuracy of the approach.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.383-399
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• 1999

In some space truss applications, particularly those with large spans, the choice of a triple-layer system might prove more cast effective than the more commonly used double-layer solution. However, there are currently no clear guidelines as to which system would be more competitive for intermediate span lengths. In this paper, comparisons in terms of the weight, stiffness and number of joints and members are made between the two system types and presented in order to simplify the choice process for the designer. The comparisons are carried out using an approximate analysis technique that is explained in this paper, and checked to be reasonably accurate and suitable for the preliminary design of space trusses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2000

It is inevitable that every space truss structure would be under some form of direct member loading. At least the structure self weight certainly affects the members directly, and in structures involving top concrete slabs or cladding, their weight is also likely to apply some lateral pressure on the members. In spite of that, direct member loading is usually ignored in space truss designs and assumed to lead only to a negligible effect on truss performance. This study is intended to explore this point and identify the actual effects that can arise from direct member loading, and eventually provide an answer to the question of whether the current design practice is satisfactory or certain modifications would be needed. After presenting two analytical techniques to allow the study of space trusses with laterally loaded members, the paper describes a wide parametric study involving practical-size space trusses with different configurations, aspect ratios, boundary conditions and number of chord panels.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2014

Nakanoshima Festival Tower is a 200 m high-rise complex building which contains a renewed 2700-seat capacity concert hall known as "Festival Hall" and offices including headquarter of a news company. In order to build up an office tower on the hall which requires large open space, a giant truss system is employed. The giant trusses being composed of mega-trusses and belt-trusses support all the building weight above them and transfer the load to the outside of the hall. The building also requires high seismic resistance performance for a news company. Application of mid-story seismic isolation enables the building to satisfy high-level seismic resistance criteria.

• 한국공간정보시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.43-52
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• 2004

The objective of this study is the development of size, shape and topology discrete optimum design algorithm which is based on the genetic algorithms. The algorithm can perform both shape and topology optimum designs of trusses. The developed algerian was implemented in a computer program. For the optimum design, the objective function is the weight of trusses and the constraints are stress and displacement. The basic search method for the optimum design is the genetic algorithms. The algorithm is known to be very efficient for the discrete optimization. The genetic algorithm consists of genetic process and evolutionary process. The genetic process selects the next design points based on the survivability of the current design points. The evolutionary process evaluates the survivability of the design points selected from the genetic process. The efficiency and validity of the developed size, shape and topology discrete optimum design algorithms were verified by applying the algorithm to optimum design examples

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 1999

The dynamic analysis of trusses using the finite element method tends to overlook the effect of local member dynamic behavior on the overall response of the complete structure. This is due to the fact that the lateral inertias of the members are omitted from the global inertia terms in the structure mass matrix. In this paper a condensed dynamic stiffness matrix is formulated and used to calculate the exact dynamic properties of trusses without the need to increase the model size. In the examples the limitations of current solutions are presented together with the exact results obtained from the proposed method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.105-118
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• 2007

On September $11^{th}$ 2001, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were struck by two hijacked airplanes. Despite severe local damage induced by the impact, the towers were able to sustain 102 and 56 minutes of the subsequent multi-storey fires before collapsing. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the in-fire performance of composite trusses by examining the behaviour of the longer-span type used in the towers. It makes no attempt to be a forensic study of the actual events. Using the finite element package Vulcan, the structural mechanics of typical long-span composite floor trusses are explained, under a variety of scenarios, as the fire temperatures rise. Different boundary conditions, degrees of protection and loading are all covered, the results being presented mainly in the form of graphs of deflection and internal force of members against time.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2018

In this paper, the Colliding Bodies Optimization (CBO), Enhanced Colliding Bodies Optimization (ECBO) and Vibrating Particles System (VPS) algorithms and the force method are used for the simultaneous analysis and design of truss structures. The presented technique is applied to the design and analysis of some planer and spatial trusses. An efficient method is introduced using the CBO, ECBO and VPS to design trusses having members of prescribed stress ratios. Finally, the minimum weight design of truss structures is formulated using the CBO, ECBO and VPS algorithms and applied to some benchmark problems from literature. These problems have been designed by using displacement method as analyzer, and here these are solved for the first time using the force method. The accuracy and efficiency of the presented method is examined by comparing the resulting design parameters and structural weight with those of other existing methods.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.501-519
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• 2012

Truss weight is one of the most important factors in the cost of construction that should be reduced. Different methods have been proposed to optimize the weight of trusses. The artificial bee colony algorithm has been proposed recently. This algorithm selects the lightest section from a list of available profiles that satisfy the existing provisions in the design codes and specifications. An important issue in optimization algorithms is how to impose constraints. In this paper, the artificial bee colony algorithm is used for the discrete optimization of trusses. The fly-back mechanism is chosen to impose constraints. Finally, with some basic examples that have been introduced in similar articles, the performance of this algorithm is tested using the fly-back mechanism. The results indicate that the rate of convergence and the accuracy are optimized in comparison with other methods.