DETERMINING OPTIMAL DESIGNS OF TIMBER BEAMS WITH NON-UNIFORM CROSS-SECTION

The paper presents an optimal design of timber beams with non-uniform cross-section based on multiparametric mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) optimization and Response Surface Optimization (RSO). For this purpose, the optimization model was developed with integrated requirements of Eurocode specifications. In order to get the variation of a given performance with respect to input parameters, the response surface optimization was performed as part of a finite element analysis. Using the deterministic analysis, we have been able to investigate the performance of the design over continuous ranges of the input parameters, using a limited number of simulations. From the response surface, we are able to identify the key parameters really influencing the design. In order to interpret the applicability of the response surface optimization and the recommended optimal design for the timber beam with non-uniform cross-section, the paper presents an example of determining the cheapest possible structure for the given design parameters.