Abaqus2Matlab is used to optimize the position of the longitudinal stiffeners of a multi-stiffened steel plate subject to combined bending and shear, so that the buckling coefficient of the plate is maximized. For this purpose, a model of the steel plate is developed in Abaqus, and an optimization procedure is implemented in Matlab. The Abaqus model performs buckling analysis of the steel plate model which is automatically generated by suitable Abaqus2Matlab scripts for specific values of the design variables. The Matlab codes use a gradient-based interior point algorithm (IPA) which involves a direct Newton step and a Conjugate Gradient step to proceed towards the optimum solution. Abaqus2Matlab effectively coupled the solver (Abaqus) and the optimizer (Matlab) functions of this complex optimization model by providing a successful linking between the various routines. This optimization procedure not only verified existing relevant results in the literature [1-2] but also led to successful optimum designs for various configuration and loading conditions of the steel plate considered! The new designs achieved lead to significantly lower amounts of steel material required for construction, reduced by at least 61.76%), while at the same time structural safety is increased by as much as 180%. Enjoy the new findings of this study and share your views:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2018.12.008

References:

[1] K.C. Rockey, I.T. Cook, Optimum reinforcement by two longitudinal stiffeners of a plate subjected to pure bending, Int. J. Solids Struct. 1 (1965) 79–92.

[2] M.M. Alinia, S.H. Moosavi, A parametric study on the longitudinal stiffeners of web panels, Thin-Walled Struct. 46 (2008) 1213–1223.