Optimum Design of Braced Steel Space Frames Using Teaching Learning Based Optimization

Abstract

In this study, optimum design of braced steel space frames is obtained via a novel metaheuristic method, teaching learning based optimization. This algorithm method consists of the two basic phases. The first phase is called as teaching; In this phase, the knowledge interaction occurs between students and teacher. In the second phase, learning phase, the knowledge interaction occurs among students in the class. Optimum profiles are selected among 128 W taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The constraints imposed on the frame example are stress constraints as stated in AISC-ASD specifications, geometric constraints and displacement constraints. To obtain optimum solutions, a program is coded in MATLAB programming to incorporate with SAP2000 - Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI). The results are compared through tables and figures. The results indicate that teaching learning based optimization method and MATLAB SAP2000 OAPI technique are applicable even for complex problems and present practical solutions.