Summary. We use the “configurational forces method” to determine the optimal shapes of stiffened plate girders with regard to their post-critical phase. We assume that each web panel is so thin that it behaves mechanically as an ideal elastic membrane, unable to sustain compressive stresses. A set of concentrated loads acts at the intersection nodes between the vertical stiffeners and the top flange while the corresponding nodes in the bottom flange are free of load. In this way, the strain energy of the system becomes a function of the coordinates of the free nodes and a minimum problem naturally arises. This optimization problem is numerically solved by means of an iterative procedure which accounts for the above nonlinear constitutive relation.
Shape optimization of stiffened plate girders via the configurational forces method
LIGARO', SALVATORE SERGIO;BARSOTTI, RICCARDO
2009-01-01
Abstract
Summary. We use the “configurational forces method” to determine the optimal shapes of stiffened plate girders with regard to their post-critical phase. We assume that each web panel is so thin that it behaves mechanically as an ideal elastic membrane, unable to sustain compressive stresses. A set of concentrated loads acts at the intersection nodes between the vertical stiffeners and the top flange while the corresponding nodes in the bottom flange are free of load. In this way, the strain energy of the system becomes a function of the coordinates of the free nodes and a minimum problem naturally arises. This optimization problem is numerically solved by means of an iterative procedure which accounts for the above nonlinear constitutive relation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
