Application of Topological Optimisation Technology to Bridge Design

摘要

This paper presents the application of modern topology optimisation technology to bridge design. Topology optimisation aims to determine the best locations and shapes of cavities in the design domain and therefore is capable of effectively dealing with structural design of infrastructure such as bridges. Several methods of topology optimisation have been developed during the past three decades, among which the evolutionary structural optimisation (ESO) method is popular because of its simplicity in software implementation and effectiveness in solving a wide range of engineering problems. The development of ESO and its advanced version bi-directional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) has reached a level of maturity nowadays. Applications of this technique have emerged around the world especially in the past decade. In this paper, the implementation of this technique in structural design is presented, with a particular focus on the design of various bridges. The design applications involve the consideration of different constructional requirements such as support types and selections of the elevation/span. Geometric constraints are also taken into account in the design problem, such as the periodic constraint with which a variety of architecturally aesthetic yet structurally efficient designs are produced. This paper aims to present the application of this promising technology to bridge design and to reveal its potential in a wider range of applications.