Optimization of the Prestressing Force in Continuous Concrete Bridges

Optimization of the Prestressing Force in Continuous Concrete Bridges
Author: Eduardo Rene Raudales Valladares
Publisher:
Total Pages: 71
Release: 2016
Genre: Prestressed concrete bridges
ISBN:

Most engineers may agree that an optimum design of a particular structure is a proposal that minimizes costs without compromising resistance, serviceability and aesthetics. Additionally to these conditions, the theory and application of the method that produces such an efficient design must be easy and fast to apply at the structural engineering offices. A considerable amount of studies have been conducted for the past four decades. Most researchers have used constraints and tried to minimize the cost of the structure by reducing the weight of it [8]. Although this approach may be true for steel structures, it is not accurate for composite structures such as reinforced and prestressed concrete. Maximizing the amount of reinforcing steel to minimize the weight of the overall structure can produce an increase of the cost if the price of steel is too high compared to concrete [8]. A better approach is to reduce the total cost of the structure instead of weight. However, some structures such as Prestressed Concrete AASHTO Girders have been standardized with the purpose of simplifying production, design and construction. Optimizing a bridge girder requires good judgment at an early stage of the design and some studies have provided guides for preliminary design that will generate a final economical solution [17] [18]. Therefore, no calculations or optimization procedure is required to select the appropriate Standard AASHTO Girder. This simplifies the optimization problem of a bridge girder to reducing the amount of prestressing and mild steel only. This study will address the problem of optimizing the prestressing force of a PC AASHTO girder by using linear programming and feasibility domain of working stresses. A computer program will be presented to apply the optimization technique effectively.

Cost Optimization of Structures

Cost Optimization of Structures
Author: Hojjat Adeli
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2006-11-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0470867345

While the weight of a structure constitutes a significant part of the cost, a minimum weight design is not necessarily the minimum cost design. Little attention in structural optimization has been paid to the cost optimization problem, particularly of realistic three-dimensional structures. Cost optimization is becoming a priority in all civil engineering projects, and the concept of Life-Cycle Costing is penetrating design, manufacturing and construction organizations. In this groundbreaking book the authors present novel computational models for cost optimization of large scale, realistic structures, subjected to the actual constraints of commonly used design codes. As the first book on the subject this book: Contains detailed step-by-step algorithms Focuses on novel computing techniques such as genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic, and parallel computing Covers both Allowable Stress Design (ASD) and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) codes Includes realistic design examples covering large-scale, high-rise building structures Presents computational models that enable substantial cost savings in the design of structures Fully automated structural design and cost optimization is where large-scale design technology is heading, thus Cost Optimization of Structures: Fuzzy Logic, Genetic Algorithms, and Parallel Computing will be of great interest to civil and structural engineers, mechanical engineers, structural design software developers, and architectural engineers involved in the design of structures and life-cycle cost optimisation. It is also a pioneering text for graduate students and researchers working in building design and structural optimization.

Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Life-Cycle Optimization

Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Life-Cycle Optimization
Author: Dan Frangopol
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 738
Release: 2010-07-07
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 041589137X

Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Life-Cycle Optimization contains the lectures and papers presented at IABMAS 2010, the Fifth International Conference of the International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS), held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA from July 11 through 15, 2010.All major aspects of bridge maintenance, s

Optimization of Prestressed Concrete Segmental Bridges

Optimization of Prestressed Concrete Segmental Bridges
Author: Aldo F. Colandrea
Publisher:
Total Pages: 382
Release: 1981
Genre: Concrete bridges
ISBN:

This research has studied the applicability of optimization techniques to the analysis and design of incrementally launched bridges. The ultimate strength and serviceability requirements of applicable bridge codes have been utilized to develop constraint criteria for the mathematical model. Optimization techniques such as geometric, linear, polynomial and dynamic programming have been investigated. A heuristic analysis of a linear programming model was selected since it provided the advantages of low computer costs and simple constraint formulations. The cost of the superstructure materials comprised the objective function. An exhaustive search over the permissible ranges of the assumed variables was considered in order to obtain the global optimum. A computer program was developed for this operation. An existing incrementally launched bridge was modeled and a minimum cost design was found. A cost comparison between the existing and optimal designs was extrapolated. A sensitivity analysis was also performed on the mathematical model of the global optimum and suboptimal conditions.