Projects / Programmes
Development, modelling and optimization of structures and processes in civil engineering and traffic
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
|
| 2.19.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Traffic systems |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T002 |
Technological sciences |
Construction technology |
Development, modelling, optimization, civil engineering, traffic, information sciences, construction, building, traffic infrastructure, non-linear programming, NLP, mixed-integer non-linear programming, MINLP
Researchers (24)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research program is dealing with development, modelling and optimization of structures and processes in civil engineering and traffic. The optimization is performed with Non-linear Programming (NLP) and Mixed-Integer Non-linear Programming (MINLP). While NLP performes a continuous optimization of structural parameters, MINLP executes a combined continuous-discrete optimization, which in addition gives essentially better results. The research is applied in two different areas: civil engineering (T 002) and traffic (T 003).
Different methods, strategies and computer codes for the modelling and optimization of structures and processes in civil engineering and traffic are under development. Optimization methods, particularly different strategies, are under development for the optimization of large-scaled real systems. The optimization models for structures, buildings, traffic infrastructures and of traffic are modelled.
In the civil engineering area, the optimization models for some typically and most frequently used truss structures, frames and bridges from steel, concrete, timber and composite material are under development. The optimization is performed in the direction of the minimization of structure mass and production costs. The construction process is also taken in the consideration. The buildings are this in way fully optimized from roof to the foundation. In the calculation process are simultaneously calculated: a structural topology (an optimal number and a configuration of structural elements), optimal materials, shape as well as standard and rounded dimensions.
The optimization of the process and the maintenance of the traffic infrastructure as well as the optimization of the traffic system request use of multicriterial synthesis, which enables the containment of criteria that are not possible to be evaluated numerically. A special attention is given to the initiation and the valuation of measures of the national and European traffic policies on the optimization of the system with the simultaneous consideration of the criteria and principles of the sustainable development as well as the economics of the traffic system.
The information sciences in civil engineering demonstrate a high integration of all the above mentioned activities. Usage of computers in civil engineering has long tradition, but due to the use of computers in a nonchangeable or olf-fashioned organization schemes, the information technology in civil engineering can not bring the progress as expected. The researchers in the area of the information sciences thus develop new organization schemes from which it is possible to optimize structures, buildings, the construction process and the traffic infractructure such that the potentials of new informatic technologies are fully exploited.
Significance for science
With the mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) approach we efficiently performed the discrete-continuous optimization of some types of real large-scale engineering structures: the plane timber and steel trusses, the single storey industrial steel building structures, the multi-storey steel frames, and three different types of composite floor systems (with steel I beams, with steel truss beams made from hollow sections, and with steel truss beams designed from open channel sections). For this purpose we applied the modified Outer-Approximation/ Equality-Relaxation algorithm (OA/ER algorithm). We developed some efficient multilevel hierarchical MINLP strategies, by which we accelerate the convergence of the mentioned algorithm. Researchers have developed a variety of methods for optimizing discrete-continuous non-linear problems of structures, where Genetic algorithm is probably the most applied optimization technique. We are developing and have used the MINLP optimization methods and strategies. It has been tested on some “standard” cases of structural optimization from literature. In all cases it happened that that the MINLP reached even up to 20% better results than were those obtained by other methods. We thus believe that the development of the MINLP optimization approach and its application in the engineering practice is one of the best in the world. The development of cost functions for the production of structures, and that of methods for optimizing the project planning, the development of models for calculating the bearing capacities of timber panel walls, the development of construction informatics and traffic are important in the development of science.
Significance for the country
The optimization of structures, the building process and traffic is from the point of view of maintaining natural resources of extreme importance. Demonstrating ecological awareness and financial savings, it has great potential in future research. The latter issue is particularly relevant in the field of sustainable development. Our estimate is that companies employing developed optimization methods and transforming into newer, more flexible forms of organization, will significantly improve their competitive capacities in Slovenia and abroad. The strengthening and modeling of composite timber panel walls is becoming vital in the development of prefabricated multilevel timber buildings (number of levels exceeding three storeys) also due to the fact that timber is, ecologically speaking, one of the least objectionable building materials. And this is not to be neglected in the present society. The results of the research are published in established scientific literature around the world, which contributes to world-wide promotion of Slovenia and Slovene science. The research is geared toward inventive solving of current engineering problems resulting in the fact that the developed methods and the research results should contribute to the further development of the civil engineering. The transfer of developed technologies into construction companies should present a significant raising of quality and greater rationalization of building. The acquired knowledge is transferred to study programs on national and international levels (e.g. the international graduate program Construction Information Technology).
Most important scientific results
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Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
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