Implementation of Topology Optimization on Building Design-Study Case

Abstract

Structural Optimization, in general, can be interpreted as “the point” where the required structural performance meets the minimal usage of resources and other constraints. The limited material resources, which have concerned researchers and professionals over the last decades, should not affect the quality and the performance a structure must reach. Topology Optimization is a Finite Element based Method, which basically consists in distributing the material in a given volume or in a design domain, so this will lead to designing the structural element that is excepted to satisfying the boundary conditions, achieves the best performance under given solicitations in respect to some design criterion. This paper will briefly present the concept of one of the most successful Optimization Methods ESO/BESO (Evolutionary Structural Optimization/Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimization), its provision of the optimum shape of the structures, reaching the target volume under certain conditions, by adding and taking off elements in the 3D Finite Element Model used as the design domain, illustrated with a short practical example.