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Optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete frame structures

Article in Computers and Concrete · June 2016

DOI: 10.12989/cac.2016.17.6.761

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Computers and Concrete, Vol. 17, No. 6 (2016) 761-786
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/cac.2016.17.6.761 761

Optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete frame

structures
Sadjad Gharehbaghi*1a, Abbas Moustafa2b and Eysa Salajegheh3c
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
2
Department of Civil Engineering, Minia University, Minia 61111, Egypt
3
Department of Civil Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

(Received July 31, 2015, Revised December 17, 2015, Accepted March 1, 2016)

Abstract. This paper proposes an automated procedure for optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete
(RC) frame structures. This procedure combines a smart pre-processing using a Tree Classification Method
(TCM) and a nonlinear optimization technique. First, the TCM automatically creates sections database and
assigns sections to structural members. Subsequently, a real valued model of Particle Swarm Optimization
(PSO) algorithm is employed in solving the optimization problem. Numerical examples on design
optimization of three low- to high-rise RC frame structures under earthquake loads are presented with and
without considering strong column-weak beam (SCWB) constraint. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of
the TCM in seismic design optimization of the structures.
Keywords: automated optimum seismic design; reinforced concrete structure; tree classification
method; construction cost; strong column-weak beam; particle swarm optimization

1. Introduction

The objective of the structural engineer is to design structures with an acceptable performance
level against possible future earthquakes accompanied with a minimum construction cost (Kanno
and Takewaki 2007, Plevris et al. 2012, Moustafa 2013). Conventional design based on trial and
error procedure guided by instinct and experience may not be a suitable tool, particularly for large
scale and complex structures. A notable example is multi-storey multi-bay structures having high
redundancy. Herein, obtaining a safe and an economic design may not be achieved without
employing the structural optimization. Given recent advances in computers and computational
techniques, this rather complicated and challenging problem should be replaced with a computer-
automated design procedure within the framework of structural optimization (Fragiadakis and
Lagaros 2011, Lagaros 2014).
Structural design optimization deals with minimizing or maximizing a single or multiple

*
Corresponding author, Faculty Member, E-mail: sgharehbaghi@bkatu.ac.ir
a
Research Structural Engineer
b
Associate Professor
c
Professor

Copyright © 2016 Techno-Press, Ltd.

http://www.techno-press.org/?journal=cac&subpage=8 ISSN: 1598-8198 (Print), 1598-818X (Online)
762 Sadjad Gharehbaghi, Abbas Moustafa and Eysa Salajegheh

objective functions (such as the structure's weight, construction cost, seismic input energy,
hysteretic energy dissipation, etc.) while maintaining a set of predefined constraints. Applications
of structural optimization includes the optimal design of truss structures, frame buildings, shells,
plates, dams, bridges, nuclear structures, storage tanks and retaining walls, etc. The optimal design
of frame buildings (steel or RC structures) represents one of the ongoing research topics for the
past few decades or so. In steel structures, the number of design variables is relatively small. In
contrast, the optimal design of RC structures involves a large number of design variables and
constraints (Gharehbaghi and Fadaee 2012). Accordingly, a small number of benchmark examples
on optimization of RC structures is available compared particularly with steel truss and frame
structures.
Recent developments in design optimization of RC structures include employing different
techniques to solve the problem of optimal design of structures. The Linear and Non-Linear
Programming, and the Optimality Criteria techniques were used to find the optimal design of RC
frame structures under static loads (Krishnamoorthy and Munro 1973, Gerlein and Beaufait 1980,
Moharrami and Grierson 1993, Fadaee and Grierson 1996, Balling and Yao 1997, Fadaee and
Grierson 1998, Guerra and Kiousis 2006). The Genetic Algorithms were also used to solve the
same problem (Rajeev and Krishnamoorthy 1989, Lee and Ahn 2003m Camp et al. 2003, Kwak
and Kim 2009). The Big Bang-Big Crunch algorithm was also applied to minimize the
construction cost of RC frames (Kaveh and Sabzi 2011, Kaveh and Sabzi 2012, Camp and Huq
2013). The Bat algorithm has been utilized in the design optimization of RC frames (Gholizadeh
and Aligholizadeh 2013). Similarly, the Charged System Search (CSS) has been used in design
optimization of RC frames (e.g. Kaveh and Behnam 2013). Kao and Yeh (2014) have also
proposed and assessed a five-phase method which integrates Design, Analysis, Modeling,
Definition, and Optimization (DAMDO) phases into an integration environment. The real valued
model of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has been utilized to design optimization of
RC framed structures under time-history earthquake loads (Gharehbaghi et al. 2011; Gharehbaghi
et al. 2012, Gharehbaghi and Fadaee 2012, Gharehbaghi and Khatibinia 2015). The optimum
seismic design of RC structures has attracted much attention worldwide (Zou and Chan 2005,
Lagaros and Papadrakakis 2008, Gharehbaghi et al. 2011a, Gharehbaghi et al. 2011b, Gharehbaghi
and Fadaee 2012; Kaveh and Zakian 2014a, Kaveh and Zakian 2014b, Gharehbaghi and
Khatibinia 2015, Khatibinia et al. 2015, Moustafa 2015).
The objective of this study is to minimize the construction cost of low- to high-rise RC frame
structures by using a new simple and efficient computer-automated methodology using structural
optimization. The objective is to obtain the best combination of members' cross-section
dimensions and steel reinforcement within the possible feasible region. In this paper, the
successful real valued version of PSO algorithm (Gharehbaghi et al. 2011, Gharehbaghi et al.
2011, Gharehbaghi and Fadaee 2012, Gharehbaghi and Khatibinia 2015) is used to implement the
optimization problem. Herein, the initial construction cost is considered as an objective function.
The constraints of the optimization problem conform to the provisions of the American Concrete
Institute (ACI318) (2011) and International Building Code (IBC) (2012). In general, the design
constraints can be classified into three groups: (i) practical restrictions related to allowable section
and elements condition and structural configuration, (ii) capacity criteria and seismic provisions
for combination of static loads, and (iii) capacity criteria and seismic provisions for combination of
gravity and earthquake loads. In most of engineering optimization problems, reducing the number
of design variables and constraints can reduce the computational efforts of the optimization
problem. Hence, this paper focuses on elimination of the number of constraints and virtually
784 Sadjad Gharehbaghi, Abbas Moustafa and Eysa Salajegheh

As a recommendation, these benchmark code-based optimized RC frames may be utilized to

comparison of optimization algorithms capability, as well as seismic performance evaluation of
code-based seismic designed RC frame structures.

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