Search results for "Structural engineering"
showing 10 items of 1998 documents
Multi-objective discrete optimization of laminated structures
2002
Abstract The paper is dedicated to the multi-objective optimal design of laminated composite structures. In order to provide sound-engineering designs, a few alternative and/or conflicting objectives must be taken into account. It is reasonable to consider the multi-objective optimization as a sensible enrichment with respect to single objective optimization, since the solutions are enforced to result optimal at the same time with respect to different objectives. Multi-objective optimization methods gained in the last years a growing interest in engineering, due to the possibility to determine a design possessing at the same time optimality with respect to different conflicting requirements…
Determination of a pre-heating sequence for the DONES Target Assembly
2021
Abstract Within the activities promoted by the EUROfusion consortium in support of the design and construction of the DEMO Oriented NEutron Source (DONES), a mock-up of its Target Assembly (TA), based on the configuration with a “bayonet” Back-Plate (BP) and available at ENEA Brasimone labs, is being adopted for the execution of experimental activities aiming at the validation of specific aspects of the target design. Despite the “integral”-TA concept is the current reference, experimental tests concerning the TA pre-heating phase are not significantly affected by the TA concept and are still representative even though conducted on the bayonet-TA concept. Indeed, the main objective of the p…
Shakedown optimal design of reinforced concrete structures by evolution strategies
2000
Approaches the shakedown optimal design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, subjected to variable and repeated external quasi‐static actions which may generate the well‐known shakedown or adaptation phenomenon, when constraints are imposed on deflection and/or deformation parameters, in order to simulate the limited flexural ductility of the material, in the presence of combined axial stress and bending. Within this context, the classical shakedown optimal design problem is revisited, using a weak upper bound theorem on the effective plastic deformations. For this problem a new computational algorithm, termed evolution strategy, is herein presented. This algorithm, derived from analogy …
Seismic shakedown design of frames based on a probabilistic approach
2014
The present study concerns the optimal design of elastic perfectly plastic structures subjected to a combination of fixed and seismic loads. In particular, plane frames are considered and suitable measures of the beam element cross sections are chosen as design variables. The optimal design is required to behave in a purely elastic manner when subjected just to the fixed load and to have the capability to eventually shakedown when simultaneously subjected to fixed and seismic loads. Due to the natural uncertainness related to the definition of the seismic load history, a new probabilistic approach is proposed, consisting into two subsequent search steps. At first a suitably chosen large num…
On the Post-Elastic Behavior of LRPH Connections
2019
The paper concerns the study of the post-elastic behavior of a recently proposed innovative device, named Limited Resistance Rigid Perfectly Plastic Hinge (LRPH). In particular, LRPH is a steel device of finite length realizing a moment connection between beam elements of a steel frame; it is designed in order to possess two main and independent requirements: its bending moment resistance must be suitably lower than the one of the connected beam element and its overall bending stiffness must be equal to that of the connected beam element characterized by the same length. In order to make the proposed device reliable, LRPH must be capable of realizing a full plastic hinge for the assigned be…
A gradient-based decomposition approach to optimize pressure path and counterpunch action in Y-shaped tube hydroforming operations
2008
International audience; In tube hydroforming, the concurrent actions of pressurized fluid and mechanical feeding allows obtaining tube shapes characterized by complex geometries such as different diameters sections and/or bulged zones. Main process parameters are material feeding history (i.e., the punches velocity history), internal pressure path during the process, and (in T- or Y-shaped tube hydroforming) counterpunch action. What is crucial, in such processes, is the proper design of operative parameters aimed to avoid defects (for instance underfilling or ductile fractures). Actually, the design of tube hydroforming operations is mainly aimed to prevent bursting or buckling occurrence …
Modelling and optimization of a passive structural control design for a spar-type floating wind turbine
2014
Abstract Compared with fixed-bottom installation, deep water floating wind turbine has to undergo more severe structural loads due to extra degrees of freedom. Aiming for effective load reduction, this paper deals with the evaluation of a passive structural control design for a spar-type floating wind turbine, and the proposed strategy is to install a tuned mass damper (TMD) into the spar platform. Firstly, a mathematical model for wind turbine surge-heave-pitch motion is established based on the D’Alembert’s principle of inertial forces. Then, parameter estimation is performed by comparing the outputs from the proposed model and the state-of-the-art simulator. Further, different optimizati…
Analytical Approach Determining the Optimal Length of Paired Drip Laterals in Uniformly Sloped Fields
2015
Microirrigation plants, if properly designed, allow for water use efficiency to be optimized and high values of emission uniformity to be obtained in the field. Disposing paired laterals, for which two distribution pipes extend in opposite directions from a common manifold, can contribute to reducing the initial investment cost that represents a limiting factor for small-scale farmers of developing countries where in the last decade, the diffusion of such irrigation systems has been increasing. The objective of this paper is to propose an analytical approach to evaluate the maximum lengths of paired drip laterals for any uniform ground slope, respecting the criteria to maintain emitter flow…
Water quality sensor placement: a multi-objective and multi-criteria approach
2021
[EN] To satisfy their main goal, namely providing quality water to consumers, water distribution networks (WDNs) need to be suitably monitored. Only well designed and reliable monitoring data enables WDN managers to make sound decisions on their systems. In this belief, water utilities worldwide have invested in monitoring and data acquisition systems. However, good monitoring needs optimal sensor placement and presents a multi-objective problem where cost and quality are conflicting objectives (among others). In this paper, we address the solution to this multi-objective problem by integrating quality simulations using EPANET-MSX, with two optimization techniques. First, multi-objective op…
Optimal design of an electro-hydraulic valve for heavy-duty vehicle clutch actuator with certain constraints
2016
Abstract The main objective of this paper is to investigate the sensitivity analysis and optimal design of a proportional solenoid valve (PSV) operated pressure reducing valve (PRV) for heavy-duty automatic transmission clutch actuators. The nonlinear electro-hydraulic valve model is developed based on fluid dynamics. In order to implement the sensitivity analysis and optimization for the PRV, the PSV model is validated by comparing the results with data obtained from a real test-bench. The sensitivity of the PSV pressure response with regard to the structural parameters is investigated by using Sobol׳s method. Finally, simulations and experimental investigations are performed on the optimi…