Improved Big Bang Big Crunch to Optimize Barrel Vault Frames

In this paper optimal design of barrel vault frames is performed via an Improved Big Bang Big Crunch optimization (IBB-BC) algorithm based on Big Bang-Big Crunch (BB-BC) and harmony search (HS methods. The BB-BC is applied for global optimization; and harmony search scheme deals with variable constraints. For optimal design constraints are considered consisting of the displacements and ultimate strength, which are chosen according to the Load and Resistance Factor Design American Institute of Steel Construction (LRFD -AISC).Results demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of IBB-BC in comparison to the HS, BB-BC and HBB-BC.

Keywords:

Optimum structural design , Big Bang Big Crunch , Harmony search , barrel vaults LRFD-AISC