Active structures with uncertainties
by C.P. Pantelides, S.-R. Tzan
International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology (IJCAT), Vol. 13, No. 1/2, 2000

Abstract: The concept and implementation of active structures presents significant computational challenges. At the design stage, an active structure requires that the structural control and structural optimisation computations be carried out simultaneously. In this paper, an algorithm, which has been developed for the design of active structures, is presented. Uncertainties in structural properties, and in the dynamic excitation must be considered for a successful design of an active structure. Uncertainties in the damping and modulus of elasticity of conventional structural members are represented using an ellipsoidal convex model. The dynamic excitation considered is an earthquake, whose uncertain characteristics are treated using an energy bound convex model. The use of the convex model, to account for uncertainties in both structural resistance and excitation, makes it possible to perform the optimisation of the structure in a time-independent fashion, which results in significant computational savings. A simulated annealing algorithm is used to perform the optimisation, which improves the chances of obtaining a global minimum design.

Online publication date: Sun, 13-Jul-2003

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