Optimum Design of Geometrically Nonlinear Double-Layer Domes by Firefly Metaheuristic Algorithm

Size optimization of double-layer scallop domes subjected to static loading is focused in the present paper. As this type of space structures possesses a large number of the structural elements, optimum design of such structures results in efficient structural configurations. In this paper, optimization task is achieved using firefly algorithm (FA) by taking into account linear and nonlinear responses of the structure. In the nonlinear optimization process only the geometrical nonlinearity effects are included. The numerical results demonstrate that nonlinear optimization provides more efficient structures compared with the linear one.