Genetic Algorithm for Embodied Energy Optimisation of Steel-Concrete Composite Beams

Alex H. Whitworth and Konstantinos Daniel Tsavdaridis
Additional contact information
Alex H. Whitworth: WSP in the UK, WSP House, 70 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1AF, UK
Konstantinos Daniel Tsavdaridis: School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: The optimisation of structural performance is acknowledged as a means of obtaining sustainable structural designs. A minimisation of embodied energy of construction materials is a key component in the delivery of sustainable future designs. This study attempts to understand the relationship between embodied energy and structural form of composite floor plates for tall buildings, and how this form can be optimised to minimise embodied energy. As a search method based upon the principles of genetics and natural selection, genetic algorithms (GA) have previously been used as novel means of optimising composite beams and composite frames for cost and weight objective functions. Parametric design models have also been presented as optimisation tools to optimise steel floor plates for both cost and embodied carbon. In this study, a Matlab algorithm is presented incorporating MathWorks global optimisation toolbox GA and utilising Eurocode 4 design processes to optimise a composite beam for five separate objective functions: maximise span length; minimise beam cross-section; minimise slab depth; minimise weight; minimise deflected shape for each of the objective functions. Candidate designs are to be assessed for embodied energy to determine individual relationships. This study shows that it is possible to reduce the embodied energy of steel–concrete composite beams by genetic algorithm optimisation whilst remaining compliant to given design codes.

Keywords: steel-concrete composite beams; embodied energy; genetic algorithm; optimisation; steel floor plates; weight reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/8/3102/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/8/3102/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3102-:d:344787

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().