Evolutionary Structural Optimization of Wind Bracing Connection Plates in Steel Structures

Abstract

Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO) is one of the rules in structural engineering which has received much attention by the researchers. Today, the reduction of construction cost and weight is an important issue in the structure design. The optimization phenomenon is pursuing to fulfill this objective. Thus, presenting a design which could be both safe and economic is of special significance. Despite the valuable researches which have been conducted on optimization of steel structures, the gap of research on ESO of wind bracing connection plates and other metal connections is sensible. The purpose of the present paper is to make an optimal design of these types of connections in the frames with convergent bracing. In this study, the software of Finite Element Method (FEM) of abaqus has been used to design the concentrically (convergent) wind bracing of connection plates based on optimization principles. The Von-Mises stress distribution contour has been presented for two statuses in different angles. In the designed bracing frame, dimensions and thickness of connection plate have been defined as the design variables and the design of optimization is compared with the design of ordinary status and the past works as well. This shows a noticeable reduction in the weight of the optimal designed plate in comparison with the ordinary design.