Development of Multiobjective Optimization Procedures for Seismic Design of Steel Moment Frame Structures

Abstract

Genetic algorithm based automated seismic design procedures are developed in the present study for member sizing optimization of code-compliant regular plane steel special moment resisting frame structures with simultaneous as well as separate treatment of multiple objective functions that reflect steel material usage, initial expenses, degree of design complexity, seismic structural performance indices, and lifetime seismic damage cost, respectively. A wide distribution of valid alternative designs is obtained that establishes optimized tradeoff among all relevant conflicting merit objectives. Therefore, structural engineers have much broader view of the entire optimized design space and thus more flexibility to select, through an explicit tradeoff decision-making process with valuable engineering experiences, the most desirable cost-effective design solution that balances different merit aspects in a preferred manner.