Optimal weight design of steel structures using adaptive simulated annealing algorithm

Structural optimization is widely adopted in the design of structures with the development of computer aided design (CAD) and computer technique recently. By applying the structural optimization in the last decades, designers have gained the design scheme of structures more feasibly and easily.

In this paper, an optimum design of one 30-story high rise building is performed considering material nonlinearity. Based on finite element analysis and adaptive simulated annealing (ASA) algorithm, the minimum weight of structure is derived under constraints of allowable normal stress, allowable shear stress, and local buckling in web and flange. All H-section members are categorized to 5 groups and 9 load combinations were applied into the procedure of structural analysis. A fast convergence on the optimal solution in design space is obtained from the data iterations between finite element analysis and ASA algorithm.

This method can achieve the global optimum point in the limited iterations without requirement of continuity and differentiability of functions. Including analysis of nonlinear material, the efficiency of the methods is significantly illustrated using a simplified practical design.