Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Metaheuristic Optimization
in Seismic Structural
Design and Inspection
Scheduling of Buildings
Chara Ch. Mitropoulou
Institute of Structural Analysis and Seismic Research, National Technical University Athens, Greece
Vagelis Plevris
School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE), Greece
Nikos D. Lagaros
Institute of Structural Analysis and Seismic Research, National Technical University Athens, Greece
ABSTRACT
Optimization is a field where extensive research has been conducted over the last decades. Many types
of problems have been addressed, and many types of algorithms have been developed, while their range
of applications is continuously growing. The chapter is divided into two parts; in the first part, the
life-cycle cost analysis is used as an assessment tool for designs obtained by means of prescriptive and
performance-based optimum design methodologies. The prescriptive designs are obtained through a
single-objective formulation, where the initial construction cost is the objective to be minimized, while
the performance-based designs are obtained through a two-objective formulation where the life-cycle
cost is considered as an additional objective also to be minimized. In the second part of the chapter, the
problem of inspection of structures and routing of the inspection crews following an earthquake in densely
populated metropolitan areas is studied. A model is proposed and a decision support system is developed
to aid local authorities in optimally assigning inspectors to critical infrastructures. A combined particle
swarm - ant colony optimization based framework is implemented, which proves to be an instance of a
successful application of the philosophy of bounded rationality and decentralized decision-making for
solving global optimization problems.
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