Optimal Shape Design of Frame Structure by using Simulated Annealing

In frame structures, the maximum bending moment in a given flexural structure always has an importance in estimating both the structural stiffness and strength performance. It is of particular interest to designers to develop an appropriate procedure to minimize the maximum moment through an optimal design of the structure. For this purpose, this paper presents a heuristic optimization algorithm, called the simulated annealing, for minimization of the maximum bending moment by virtue of the structural shape optimization. Simulated annealing is a novel meta-heuristic optimization algorithm, is powerful, efficient and is very simple to solve the combinatorial shape optimization problems. In this paper,
at first maximum bending moment in frame structure by using finite element method is investigated and then simulated annealing algorithm is applied to minimize the maximal bending moment. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the applicability and capability of the present method. The results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and its ability to find optimal shape of structure for minimizing the maximum bending moment problem.