Optimization of a Simply Supported Reinforced Concrete Beam.

An attempt is made to optimize a rectangular simple r. c. beam dimensioned with the use of the working-stress method. Given the unit costs of concrete, steel and sheathing material, the cheapest design can be found. The user specifies the span, load, admissible deflections and cracks and is provided with the dimensions of the cross-section, bending and shear reinforcement, number of stirrups in the whole beam, number of effective stirrups, length of shear zone, maximum deflection, crack width, concrete grade, steel grade and the cost of the beam. The systematic search method is employed.