Journal of Theoretical
and Applied Mechanics

42, 3, pp. 585-608, Warsaw 2004

Reliability based optimization of steel frames under seismic loading conditions using evolutionary computation

Manolis Papadrakakis, Yiannis Tsompanakis, Nikos D. Lagaros, Michalis Fragiadakis
Earthquake-resistant design of structures using probabilistic analysis and performance-based design criteria is an emerging field of structural engineering. These new analysis and design methodologies are aimed at improving the existing practice and design codes for better prediction of the structural performance. In this paper, a robust and efficient methodology is presented for performing reliability-based structural optimum design of steel frames under seismic loading. The optimization part is realised with evolution strategies, while the reliability analysis is carried out with the Monte Carlo simulation method incorporating the latin hypercube sampling technique for the reduction of the sample size. The probability of failure of the frame structures, in terms of interstorey drift limits, is determined via the multi-modal response spectrum analysis.
Keywords: structural optimization; reliability analysis; Monte Carlo simulation; evolutionary computation; multi-modal response spectrum analysis