A nested genetic algorithm strategy for an optimal seismic design of frames

Abstract An innovative strategy for an optimal design of planar frames able to resist seismic excitations is proposed. The optimal design is performed considering the cross sections of beams and columns as design variables. The procedure is based on genetic algorithms (GA) that are performed according to a nested structure suitable to be implemented in parallel on several computing devices. In particular, this bi-level optimization involves two nested genetic algorithms. The first external one seeks the size of the structural elements of the frame which corresponds to the most performing solution associated with the highest value of an appropriate fitness function. The latter function takes into account, among other considerations, the seismic safety factor and the failure mode that are calculated by means of the second internal algorithm. The proposed procedure aims at representing a prompt performance-based design procedure which observes earthquake engineering principles, that is displacement capacity and energy dissipation, although based on a limit analysis, thus avoiding the need of performing cumbersome nonlinear analyses. The details of the proposed procedure are provided and applications to the seismic design of two frames of different size are described.