Structural robustness at the conceptual stage

摘要

The aim of this paper is to develop a complementary method to the numerical approaches proposedrnin the literature on the subject, which will help in assessing the constitutive dimensions of structuralrnrobustness at the conceptual stage. Based on geometrical thinking, this method defines robustnessrnas the ability of a structure to maximise the rearrangement of its internal forces. This can bernexpressed graphically by admissible geometrical domains. The purpose and extent of this newrnapproach are summarised and illustrated by the detailed robustness analysis of two case studies.rnThe areas obtained for the admissible geometrical domains are then compared with values of thernminimal load path and with structural stiffness, in order to decide on the right modelling strategy.