EXAMPLE 10. OPTIMIZATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION

EXAMPLE 10: 'OPTIMISATION' 11 1.3 Design Constraints Design Constraints are the limits of design variables that you can set per section type or per structural element. The design variables are the sizes of the structure that change during optimization, i.e. the dimensions of the structural elements, and the limits are the range of values in which each dimension will take values. The way of imposing the limits of the design variables in optimization process (OCP) structures analyzed and designed in Scada Pro, results in grouping the structural elements following a logical hierarchy: - starts from general - total constraints applicable to each type of structural element (columns, beams, slabs) - continues at a more specific level per cross-section with the structural elements they include, grouping elements of the same type, e.g. beams, by type of cross-section, - to arrive at the definition of the limits per structural element and at the level of grouping of individual linear or surface elements, grouping elements of the same type and cross- section per structural element. These restrictions concern either minimum and maximum dimension limits and their step of change, or the "locking" of dimension or dimensions, i.e. to keep them (the dimensions) unchanged regardless of whether they belong to a type of cross-section or to specific structural elements. More specifically, the first level of defining the boundaries within which the dimensions of the building elements will take values is done using the " Design Boundaries " command which belongs to the Basic Settings subsection. IMPORTANT OBSERVATION: It is important to clarify that all the variations of the cross-sections during the Optimization are done keeping always constant their Fixed Points and the corresponding Fixed Passages of the beams. This means that before starting the optimisation process, it is necessary to adjust the Fixed Points of the cross-sections in such a way that the floor plans, outer boundaries and passages of columns and beams are not deformed. Through the "Show" section and the "Switches" command, activate the Fixed Points and display the study floor plans one by one to locate the fixed points and change them if necessary.