Numerical strategies for obtaining strut-and-tie models via topological optimization
Palavras-chave:
Strut-and-Tie Model, Finite Element Method, Topological Optimization, Reinforced Concrete, Plane stress stateResumo
The strut-and-tie model is widely used for analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures under
plane stresses state. To apply this model, it is necessary to define strut-and-tie systems that represent the flow of
stresses generated in the analysed structure. In order to make the concept of the model less dependent on the
designer’s experience, in many situations, like regions or structures with geometric or static discontinuity, this
strut-and-tie model is defined through an evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) considering linear isotropic
material, which provides the automatic generation of strut-and-tie models. The evolution criterion adopted by the
topological optimization method considers the elimination of less requested elements in terms of tension, based
on the elastic-linear analysis. The focus of this work is on the development and implementation of different
strategies to control the way these elements are removed, which lead to different final configurations. In this
context, it is possible to obtain optimized solutions to complex problems involving reinforced concrete structures.
Two practical applications are presented and two of them had their results compared with the results provided in
the literature to validate the efficiency of the algorithm proposed.
