Finite Element Model for the Optimization of Steel I-Beam with Variable Depth

Abstract

Abstract The objective of structural design is to select member sizes with the optimal proportioning of the overall structural geometry. Conventional steel I-beam with variable depth have been used widely in various engineering fields. The objective of this study is to develop a three-dimensional finite element model for the total volume of steel I-beam with variable depth. The finite element software package ANSYS was used to determine the optimum total volume for the steel I-beam with variable depth. The purpose of the study is to minimize the total volume of the steel beam. The design variables are the height of the steel beam at support, the flanges width, the thickness of flanges, the height of the steel beam at mid-span, and the web thickness. The constraints considered in this study are the normal stress in steel beam and the mid-span displacement of the steel beam. Optimization results of steel beam indicate that the total volume was reduced approximately by 52 %.