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I. Merta, S. Kravanja, U. Klansek:
"Optimization based cost comparison between reinforced concrete and steel beams";
in: "High Performance Structures and Materials IV", herausgegeben von: Wessex Institute of Technology; WIT Press, Great Britain, 2008, ISBN: 978-1-84564-106-1, S. 449 - 456.

The paper presents the optimization based cost comparison between the reinforced concrete and the doubly-symmetrical welded steel I beams. The task of the research was to define the spans at which each of two considered different structures would show its advantages. The optimization/comparison was performed for simply supported beams for spans between 5 and 30 meters and for uniformly distributed variable imposed load of 5 kN/m. The structural optimization was performed by the nonlinear programming (NLP) approach. The cost objective function was defined for the optimization and subjected to the structural analysis constraints. The structures were designed in accordance with Eurocodes for both the ultimate and serviceability limit states. Beside the optimal self-manufacturing costs, the results also include the optimal masses for the considered different structures.

structural optimization, non-linear programming, reinforced concrete beams, steel beams