Moacir Kripka, Zacarias Chamberlain Pravia, Guilherme Fleith Medeiros and Maiga Marques Dias
Trusses constitute a fertile field to demonstrate the application of optimization techniques because of the possibility of several different configurations. Using such techniques…
Abstract
Purpose
Trusses constitute a fertile field to demonstrate the application of optimization techniques because of the possibility of several different configurations. Using such techniques allows the search for designs that minimize the use of material to safely comply with the imposed loads. Truss optimization can be classified into three categories: cross-section, shape, and topology. The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical and experimental study developed to minimize the weight of aluminum trusses, taking both the cross-sectional dimensions of the elements and the nodal coordinates as design variables.
Design/methodology/approach
Initially, several numerical computer simulations were performed with an optimization program developed by combining the displacement method and a simulated annealing optimization method. Subsequently, two aluminum trusses were selected and built in order to validate the numerical results obtained.
Findings
Experimental tests verified the excellent performance of the optimized model.
Originality/value
In addition, it was concluded that significant savings could be obtained from the application of the proposed formulation.