Optimizing the volume of reinforced concrete floors using grid analogy

Resumo

One of structural engineering’s main goals is to model a structure able to withstand the loads to which
it is subjected, but consuming the least amount of material possible, which is the concept of structural
optimization. This article aims to use an algorithm in Python 3.0 capable of optimizing the sizes of beams and
slabs from a conventional building system made of reinforced concrete, so that the Serviceability Limit State of
excessive deflection is satisfied in the most economical way. For this purpose, the floor is modeled by beam
Finite Elements to represent both the structural beams and the slabs, in a Grid Analogy Method. For the
optimization process, it is necessary to use a library able to solve constrained minimization of multivariate scalar
function problems, in order to do this, the SciPy library is used. This framework is applied to typical sizing
examples of reinforced concrete floors and results are compared in terms of displacements and volume of
concrete.