Systematic Design and Non-Linear Problems

Abstract

This chapter and chapters 7 and 8 are concerned with non-linear systems. In civil engineering by far the largest source of non-linear decision-making problems is the design phase of a project. Since almost all design problems are non-linear, it is therefore logical that in this book the examples chosen to introduce and illustrate non-linear solution methods should be design examples. This chapter begins by showing that economical and efficient designs result from a formal, systematic approach to design and that mathematical optimisation affords a very convenient framework for systematic design.