Discrete Optimum Design of Planar Steel Curved Roof and Pitched Roof Portal Frames Using Metaheuristic Algorithms

Portal frames are single-story frame buildings including columns and rafters, and their rafters can be either curved or pitched. These are used widely in the construction of industrial buildings, warehouses, gyms, fire stations, agricultural buildings, hangars, etc. The construction cost of these frames considerably depends on their weight. In the present research, the discrete optimum design of two types of portal frames including planar steel Curved Roof Frame (CRF) and Pitched Roof Frame (PRF) with tapered I-section members are presented. The optimal design aims to minimize the weight of these frame structures while satisfying some design constraints based on the requirements of ANSI/AISC 360-16 and ASCE 7-10. Four population-based metaheuristic optimization algorithms are applied to the optimal design of these frames. These algorithms consist of Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO), Enhanced Colliding Bodies Optimization (ECBO), Shuffled Shepherd Optimization Algorithm (SSOA), and Water Strider Algorithm (WSA). Two main objectives are followed in this paper. The first one deals with comparing the optimized weight of the CRF and PRF structures with the same dimensions for height and span in two different span lengths (16.0 m and 32.0 m), and the second one is related to comparing the performance of the considered metaheuristics in the optimum design of these portal frames. The obtained results reveal that CRF is more economical than PRF in the fair comparison. Moreover, comparing the results acquired by SSOA with those of other considered metaheuristics reveals that SSOA has better performance for the optimal design of these portal frames.