OPTIMAL DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES USING DIFFERENTIAL EVOLUTION

Abstract

The paper presents a practical method of the (discrete) minimum weight design of steelstructures. For such applications, (some) values for variables must be selected from availablestandard sections. Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is one of Evolution Algorithms, thatwas used and implemented into a computer program for their numerical optimization. Threenumerical examples are presented: the classical benchmark problem of a 25-bar space truss, abowstring column, and a 2-bay 6-storey plane frame. The proposed method gives, after areasonable calculation time, a very good approach to the exact optimum solution. In the exampleof a 25 bar space truss, the proposed method gave the lowest weight (ca. 5% better than others)compared with corresponding existing results and in the two last examples, the results (weights)obtained were better than the initially designed weights