Support Number and Allocation for Optimum Structure

Abstract

In structural optimization most of the attention has been paid so far to structure itself. However in many cases the type and number of supports are having an important influence on minimum cost of the total system — structure plus supports. To make the problem more clear let consider two different structures — bridge and guyed mast. The bridge symbolically presented on Fig.1 may be supported at seven structural joints 1,2,…,7. Depending on the conditions each of the seven supports may be of different price. One might be on rock other one on sand or bottom of river or sea. We have then to answer how to support our bridge to achieve the lowest cost, both of structural material and supports. With assumed configuration of structural nodes and members we may assume that the cost of assembling is constant and may be omitted in cost function.