X-bracing systems are widely applied in structural design to limit deflections and guarantee stability. Efficient distribution of bracing over a structure is an important concern and often based on intuition and previous experience. This paper presents a topology optimization procedure for cable bracing of the hanging steel façade of a new museum in the United States. In this procedure the use of a multiobjective Genetic Algorithm allows for flexibility during design modifications and accounts for uncertainty of deflection constraint values. The presented method achieves practical solutions to a series of cost minimizing problems, giving the designer a range of optimal bracing configurations which can be selected in response to the continuously changing structural and architectural requirements throughout the design process.
Richardson J.N., Adriaenssens S., Nordenson G, Labarenne R, Coelho R.F., (2012). ‘Flexible optimum design of a bracing system for facade design using multiobjective Genetic Algorithms.’In: Automation in Construction. DOI 10.1016/j.autcon.2012.12018.