Bicriteria optimal design of open cross sections of cold-formed thin-walled beams

This paper presents a analysis of the problem of optimal design of the beams with two I-type cross section shapes. These types of beams are simply supported and subject to pure bending. The strength and stability conditions were formulated and analytically solved in the form of mathematical equations. Both global and selected types of local stability forms were taken into account. The optimization problem was defined as bicriteria. The cross section area of the beam is the first objective function, while the deflection of the beam is the second. The geometric parameters of cross section were selected as the design variables. The set of constraints includes global and local stability conditions, the strength condition, and technological and constructional requirements in the form of geometric relations. The optimization problem was formulated and solved with the help of the Pareto concept of optimality. During the numerical calculations a set of optimal compromise solutions was generated. The numerical procedures include discrete and continuous sets of the design variables. Results of numerical analysis are presented in the form of tables, cross section outlines and diagrams. Results are discussed at the end of the work. These results may be useful for designers in optimal designing of thin-walled beams, increasing information required in the decision-making procedure.