Metaheuristics for Structural Design and Analysis. Yusuf Cengiz Toklu
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СКАЧАТЬ 1.1. It should be noted that the algorithm represented in this chart is not fully applicable, even in our age, though engineers are close to using it only for some simple structures. We can estimate that full use of the algorithm shown will be possible with advances yet to be made in the field known as artificial intelligence.

      In the early ages, there was of course no knowledge about concepts such as stress, strain, force, deformations, stability, buckling, bending and torsion. Formulating a mathematical model of the structure was unthinkable, and there was no knowledge of calculus to do any kind of computation. Despite all of this, there was the intuition, experience, intelligence and observation power of some extraordinary people.

Schematic illustration of a drawing of construction operations at Göbeklitepe, Urfa, Turkey. Photo depicts a current view of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

      The real iterations started with advances in structural analysis; its history written by Timoshenko (1983), Benvenuto (1990), Mainstone (1997), Felippa (2001), Addis (2003), Kurrer (2018) and many others.

      Strength of materials is a primordial field in structural analysis. Following an introduction that charts its early beginnings, Timoshenko (1983) – in his book originally published in 1953 – explores the history of this subject across 14 chapters, beginning with the 17th century and ending with the period 1900–1950.

      Mainstone (1997) states that structural analysis, as we now know it, began in the 18th century to assess the safety of buildings to be constructed. By the mid-19th century, this area is extended for analyzing earlier structures like Gothic cathedrals. The first idealization was Hooke’s law of direct proportionality; this idealization went together with increasing knowledge about statically determinate structures, ignoring those that were statically indeterminate or hyperstatic. The second half of the 19th century was marked by graphical methods.

      Matrices hold a particularly important place in the history of analyses of structures. Felippa (2001) addresses this aspect under three titles: creation, unification and FEMinization, the last term meaning the launching of “[...] the direct stiffness method [...] as an efficient and general computer implementation, as yet unnamed, finite element method (FEM)”. Addis (2003) states that the main causes of failure in historical structures were wind loads, foundation problems and fires. We must add earthquakes to these effects for some parts of the world. Addis mentions the importance of full-scale tests on small physical models in historical times.

      Two books, authored by Benvetuno (1990) and Kurrer (2008), are especially remarkable in following the history of structures. In both, the subject is traced from the very first works up until the time each book was written, dividing the advances into eras with historical drawings and anecdotes. Benvetuno’s book is in two parts: “Statics and resistance of solids” and “Vaulted structures and elastic systems”. Kurres’s book, titled The History of the Theory of Structures – From Arch Analysis to Computational Mechanics was published originally in German, in 2002.

      Although the design, analysis, and construction of structures have always shown continuous advances in history, there was a period when this was the opposite. Indeed, between the time of the Romans and the Renaissance, let aside making of constructions more important than in previous times, the knowledge accumulated until then was lost (Timoshenko 1983).

      Empirical rules were in use until the 18th century. As time went on, structural computations began to come onto the scene. One of СКАЧАТЬ