Reliability-based design optimization of the frame structures using the force method and SORA-DM framework

Deterministic optimization methods take none of the uncertainty of the structures into account. Here, the reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) is utilized to handle these uncertainties. In this study, the sequential optimization and reliability assessment-double meta-heuristic (SORA-DM) framework is used for the RBDO of the frame structures. In the SORA-DM, the meta-heuristic algorithm is utilized in both the optimization process and reliability assessment. The considered frames have lower degree of static indeterminacy than the degree of kinematic indeterminacy. The force method is used for the first time in the structural analysis of the RBDO problems. Six population-based algorithms are utilized in this study, including the shuffled shepherd optimization algorithms (SSOA), Rao-1, Rao-2, and their enhanced versions for comparison. These algorithms are utilized for the RBDO of the frame structures. The optimization results indicated that the enhanced algorithms have good performance in the RBDO of the frame structures. Additionally, among the standard algorithms, the SSOA has shown better performance.