Flexible optimum design of a bracing system for facade design using multiobjective Genetic Algorithms

X-bracing systems are widely applied in structural design to limit deflections and guarantee stability. Efficient distribution of bracing over a structure is an important concern and often based on intuition and previous experience. This paper presents a topology optimization procedure for cable bracing of the hanging steel facade of a new museum in the United States. In this procedure the use of a multiobjective Genetic Algorithm allows for flexibility during design modifications and accounts for uncertainty of deflection constraint values. The presented method achieves practical solutions to a series of cost minimizing problems, giving the designer a range of optimal bracing configurations which can be selected in response to the continuously changing structural and architectural requirements throughout the design process. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.