Optimum design of steel sway frames to BS5950 using harmony search algorithm

Harmony search method based optimum design algorithm is presented for the steel sway frames. The harmony search method is a numerical optimization technique developed recently that imitates the musical performance process which takes place when a musician searches for a better state of harmony. Jazz improvisation seeks to find musically pleasing harmony similar to the optimum design process which seeks to find the optimum solution. The optimum design algorithm developed imposes the behavioral and performance constraints in accordance with BS5950. The member grouping is allowed so that the same section can be adopted for each group. The combined strength constraints considered for a beam–column take into account the lateral torsional buckling of the member. The algorithm presented selects the appropriate sections for beams and columns of the steel frame from the list of 64 Universal Beam sections and 32 Universal Column sections of the British Code. This selection is carried out so that the design limitations are satisfied and the weight of steel frame is the minimum. The number of design examples considered to demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithm is presented.