Mass and topology optimization of tensegrity structures with application to footbridges
1 Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Yaoundé National Advanced School of Engineering ENSPY, The University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 8390 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
2 Ph.D. Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Yaoundé National Advanced School of Engineering ENSPY, The University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 8390 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
3 Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Yaoundé National Advanced School of Engineering ENSPY, The University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 8390 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
4 Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Yaoundé National Advanced School of Engineering ENSPY, The University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 8390 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Research Article
Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 2020, 04(03), 031-044.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gjeta.2020.4.3.0064
Publication history:
Received on 25 August 2020; revised on 16 September 2020; accepted on 20 September 2020
Abstract:
This paper underlines the need of improving the traditional design method of stem rope footbridge by a sustainable reliable optimization design method of tensegrity footbridge. The proposed methodology displays the optimization of the topology of elements and of the structure, the specified loading and unloading procedures, and the system practical behaviour with respect to construction norms through the obtained multivariate objective function. Since tensegrity systems are characterized by geometric nonlinearity and larger displacements, a specific software program was developed using MATLAB build-in optimization codes. The developed combine mass and topology optimization procedure results in improved geometric and mechanical behaviour. Discussions are presently going on with involved local administration and with different national economical actors to financially foster the project feasibility.
Keywords:
Optimization; Tensegrity; Topology; Footbridge; Prestress; Construction.
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Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0