Optimización heurística de pórticos de paso de carretera de hormigón armado

Heuristic optimization of reinforced concrete road portal frames

This paper deals with the optimization of costs of reinforced concrete portal frames used in road construction. It shows the efficiency of four heuristic and metaheuristic optimization algorithms. The evaluation of each solution is performed using a computer module according to the Spanish Code EHE. The calculation of stress resultants is done by an external finite element code that applies loads acording to the national IAP provisions. Heuristic methods used are the random walk and the gradient method. The metaheuristics methods used are the threshold accepting method and the simulated annealing method. The four methods have been applied to the same portal frame of 10 m of horizontal span. The comparison of the four heuristic algorithms leads to the conclusion that simulated annealing is more efficient.