A METHOD FOR OBTAINING QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION FOR PREPARING NEW STANDARD SECTION TABLE REFLECTING CONSTRUCTION DEMANDS

Abstract

We propose a method for obtaining quantitative information for preparing new steel section lists that reflect recent variations in construction demands. To quantify new demands for steel section sizes, we solve a series of design optimization problems, wherein new construction demands, e.g., demands for longer spans, are reflected as the distributions of design conditions. Applying a statistical approach to the distributions of the optimal solutions, we obtain the quantitative information on the section sizes to be selected in new steel section lists. Through an example problem of hospital buildings, we demonstrate the change of the distributions of the optimal solutions with respect to the variations in span lengths. We also demonstrate that sections with thinner flanges are often selected than those in the current section list.