Our Expertise | CIVIL ENGINEERING

Structural optimization of a bridge beam section subjected to instability of equilibrium

CAE and numeric simulation guides engineers to an optimal design for structural safety at the lowest cost

Newsletter EnginSoft Year 12 n°1
By Luca Candito, Giorgio Zavarise | Università del Salento
<p>Fig. 3 - Parallel Coordinates Chart of Pareto design</p>

Fig. 3 - Parallel Coordinates Chart of Pareto design

Abstract

This technical article describes how engineers tackled a design optimization challenge to ensure the structural integrity of a section of the beam of a typical steel bridge whose web of main beams was subject to instability. The starting structure consisted of two 2-m high main beams each of which spanned 40 m. The structure had to be optimized to withstand both local instability, affecting a single structural element, and global instability affecting the full structure. Either type of instability could cause sudden failure in the element affected that would create extreme danger to all in the vicinity of the bridge. The CAE software returned a high number of potentially optimal designs which required the engineers to undertake further numerical simulation to identify one globally optimal solution that met the structural safety design parameters and contained the economic impact of the design changes.

Read the article

Find out more

CASE STUDY

American Magic perfects AC75 design for the 36th America’s Cup

ESTECO technology plays a key role in foil and sail design

The America’s Cup isn’t just the first sailing competition in history, it’s also the first when it comes to innovation. Learn how American Magic engineers partnered with ESTECO to prepare for their next challenge

modefrontier marine

NEWSROOM

Stay connected with us: news, analysis and trends from our experts.

Newsroom  

MEDIA CENTER

Scroll through our Media Center to view all the videos, video-tutorials and recorded webinars.

Media Center  

CASE STUDY

Using multidisciplinary optimization for engine suspension stiffness

Optimizing idling and ride comfort

In this technical article, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles explain how they created a multibody optimization project to identify the optimal values for the powertrain suspension stiffness for a three-cylinder engine in order to minimize the vibrations at idle condition and ensuring greater ride comfort to the passengers.

automotive optimization modefrontier