What is it about?
A extensive optimisation study has been perform to understand the mass distribution of the cross-section when structural elements made of aliminium are loaded in bending (beams) and compression (columns). A range of improved configurations was resulted while they have been tested with the use of FEA to record their improved performance in comparison to the structural aluminium members currently used.
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Why is it important?
The optimised design performs better in terms of load carrying capacity although it is lighter, based on the inherent geometric configuration. It is important to use this example as a case study for updating and improving the cross-sectional properties of structural and non-structural members.
Perspectives
This is a novel study and the first of its type. We have seen many irregular shapes of aluminium cross-sections for non-structural purposes proposed in the past, but this is the first study for structural members of aluminium, in which advanced optimisation techniques (and not just engineering intuition) are employed to design the fully optimised configuration. Some optimised members have been tested and perform better than the conventional ones. It is worth to note that this research study is still ongoing and many other checks are currently carried out. Experimental works are also in the pipeline. By this paper, we attempt to highlight the need of such advanced tools to better design our structural members, systems and buildings but a more sophisticated mass distribution.
Dr KONSTANTINOS DANIEL TSAVDARIDIS
University of Leeds
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Novel Morphologies of Aluminium Cross-Sections through Structural Topology Optimization Techniques, Key Engineering Materials, September 2016, Trans Tech Publications,
DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.710.321.
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