Optimal Fire Design of Steel Tapered Portal Frames

The development of new and valuable conceptual design concepts based on structural optimization results is the global aim of the presented research in order to assist the industry in economical fire design of steel tapered portal frames. In order to find optimal configurations regarding the life cycle of the structure, a complex, reliability based structural optimization framework has been developed for tapered portal frame structures. Due to the high nonlinearity and discrete nature of the optimality problem, Genetic Algorithm is invoked to find optimal solutions according to the objective function in with the probability of failure is evaluated using First Order Reliability Method. The applied heuristic algorithm ensures that a number of possible alternatives are analysed during the design process. Based on evaluation of the results of a parametric study, new conceptual design concepts and recommendations are developed and presented for steel tapered portal frames used as storage hall related to optimal structural safety, common design practice and optimal structural fire design.