• Heinisuo, Markku
• Tiainen, Teemu
• Mela, Kristo

Abstract

Evaluating the economy of high strength steel in structural applications is typically difficult since accurate cost data is not available. In this study, multi-criteria optimization approach is employed to provide the designer with a decision-making tool for finding compromise solutions between material and fabrication costs without the need for cost data. Structural weight, painted area and volume of welds are the three conflicting and non-commensurable criteria considered. These quantities represent the main sources of costs in tubular trusses, namely material, surface treatment and welding. By examining the Pareto optimal solutions, the trade-off between weight savings and fabrication costs can be assessed. The proposed approach is especially suitable when applying topology optimization, as the number of braces can be varied during optimization, which has clear impact on the fabrication costs.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface
• strength
• steel