Steel Structure Optimisation

Hrishikesh Khairnar
Geometry
Roof designation
Front View
Truss Vertical and diagonal elements in truss
Top View
Grid
Right Side View
Truss1

Truss2
Elements
Element Type Cross Section

Truss Support Gable

Truss 1 SHS 80*80*3.2
Truss 2 SHS 100*100*4.0
Diagonal and vertical element in truss SHS 40*40*2.6
Column RHS=200*100*4.0

Purlin1 RHS=145*82*4.8
Purlin2 RHS=122*61*3.6
Modelling
• Our geometry has been modelled in SpaceClaim design modeller of
ANSYS
• All structures are modelled as beam elements with the respective
cross sections
• We have taken additional help of scripting so as to parametrise our
model so it can be automated for the further optimisation
• All units are in mm
Mechanical Model
• Material:- Structural Steel
• Mesh:-Default [Coarse]
• Topology: Shared
Boundary Conditions
• We will apply fixed support at the end of the columns
• We will apply load at the vertices of each module i.e at the
connection point of purlin ,grid and truss members
• Load conditions=22.5 kg/msq
• Total load=22.5*Area*9.81 N
=22.5*[13.25*36.02]*9.81
=105344.3117 N
• Inertia effect due to gravity
Fixed support
Loading
At the vertices of each grid
Results A: Direct Stress
Result B: Deformation
Optimisation
• We will carry our design optimisation by optimising the input
parameters [ i.e. grid and purlin spacing ] and output parameters
[deformation]
• Purlin spacing =P mm and Grid spacing =G mm
• We will start with P and G from P=G=2000mm
• We will bound our optimisation region between spacing of 750 mm to
5000 mm
DOE [Design of Experiment]
• So the DOE is carried out with 9 Design Points
• For each combination of grid and purlin spacing we calculate the total
maximum deformation
Objective and conditions
• As our objective is to reduce material , we have to maximise our grid
and purlin spacing
• That means as our spacing is increasing the no of grid and purlin
members would reduce and overall our weight of structure will
reduce
Objective and Constraints
• Objective= Reduction in weight of structure modifying the spacing
between grid and purlin structure members
• Constraints
• Maximise : P and G
• Minimise Deformation
Optimisation
• Optimisation is carried out in ANSYS Workbench using the Surface
Response Optimisation Module
• For this module DOE is given in as input
• After surface response study done from the DOE table , we have to
mention our objectives and constraints over the parameter
Candidate Points
Optimisation
• Possible grid for design optimality
• A] 750*750
• B]750*1100
• C]750*1700

• This grid sizes are optimised for our design

Scope
• In addition to optimisation of grid and purlin spacing we can improve
design by
• A] Complete optimisation of structure i.e. [by optimising truss column
and inter truss]
• B]Optimisation using various combination of hollow sections
• C] We have carried out structural optimisation which allows very little
or no modification in the shape of element or basic structural
elements. To additionally save the material and reduce the stresses
we can carry out topology optimisation