Structural Lay-Out Optimization of Steel Structures

In the initial stages of the design process of large structures a number of key conceptual decisions need to be made,
which have a prominent influence on the material use, carbon footprint and construction time. For smaller, 'typical'
structures, experience and rules of thumb can be used to arrive at an efficient solution. However, for larger atypical or
architecturally unique structures (e.g. large roof spans in stadiums, skyscrapers, etc.), it is not at all obvious which
structural lay-out will result in an optimum solution, while at the same time satisfying the constraints of strength, stability,
serviceability and resistance against disproportionate collapse. Conversely, innovative structural lay-out solutions often
contribute to creating architecturally iconic structures (e.g. skyscrapers with an exoskeleton). The project aims to explore
advanced optimization techniques to obtain steel-framed structural configurations, optimized against a multi-objective
target. Given the typically very large search space, combined with the time-consuming character of individual detailed
structural analyses, it is likely that Artificial Intelligence algorithms will be able to significantly facilitate and speed up the
solution process, and this option will be explored. As a practical outcome, the project aims to provide a pathway towards
a designer-oriented tool which implements the developed algorithms.