A Form Finding Method for Arch Bridges Using Parametric Level Set Method

Topology optimization has developed rapidly in the past three decades; as a creative and efficient optimization technique, it has been applied in engineering fields of aerospace and mechanical. However, there are a few attempts in bridge form design. In this paper, the parametric level set method is utilized to solve the form finding of arch bridges. The optimization model for minimizing the structural compliance under the volume constraint is built. Three numerical examples of form finding of arch bridges are studied. Results show that the optimal structures which have well-distributed stress and smooth force transmission are almost identical with the actual forms of arch bridges. The optimal forms can be treated as alternatives in the preliminary design stage, and topology optimization has a bright prospect in form finding of arch bridges.

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