Optimum design of cold-formed steel channel beams using micro Genetic Algorithm

• Published in: Engineering structures Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 17 - 24
• Main Authors: Lee, Jaehong, Kim, Sun-Myung, Park, Hyo-Seon, Woo, Byung-Hun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building structure; Buildings. Public works; Cold-formed steel channel beams; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Construction (buildings and works); Exact sciences and technology; Metal structure; Micro-genetic algorithm; Optimization; Structural analysis. Stresses; Micro-genetic algorithm; Cold-formed steel channel beams; Optimization; Metallic structure; Cold forming; Structural member; U shape; Genetic algorithm; Formulation; Steel; Beam(mechanics); Optimal design
• ISSN: 0141-0296; 1873-7323
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2004.08.008

An important advantage of cold-formed steel is the great flexibility of cross-sectional profiles and sizes available to structural steel designers. However, this flexibility makes the selection of the most economical section difficult for a particular situation. In this study, a micro Genetic Algorithm ( μ -GA) is used to find an optimum cross-section of cold-formed steel beams. The μ -GA is one of the improved form of GAs, to reduce iteration and computing resources by using small populations. The design curves are generated for optimum values of the thickness and the web flat-depth-to-thickness ratio for unbraced beams under uniformly distributed load. As numerical results, the optimum design curves are presented for various load level.