Collaborative optimization design of reinforcement concrete bridge considering aseismic requirements

Collaborative Optimization (CO) strategy is applied to aseismatic design of reinforcement concrete bridge. The design procedure is regarded as a whole system. The procedure is decomposed into a double-level nonlinear optimization problem. Besides system level, disciplines level is subdivided into three disciplines in term of stress states of the bridge: statics discipline, linear dynamics discipline, and nonlinear dynamics discipline. Corresponding finite element model is builded as discipline analysis model respectively. Gradient-based strategy is adopted as the optimizer of system level, statics discipline and linear dynamics discipline. Genetic algorithm is adopted as the optimizer of nonlinear dynamics discipline. The validity of Collaborative Optimization strategy is examined by comparing optimum results from Collaborative Optimization to optimum results from traditional optimization method. By comparison, Collaborative Optimization strategy is time saving and more efficient than traditional optimization method with the same optimization results.