Cross-Section Optimization using Simulated Annealing of Cold-Formed Steel Channel Columns

Cold-formed profiles has been used in large scale in Building industry, due to the easy way to product them and the wide range of sections feasible to accomplish with the project needs. The search for a maximum performance of structural elements with the low use of material is a challenge of today and future for engineering. This paper presents a numeric study to obtaining minimum weight of cold-formed channel columns, with and without lips, using the prescriptions of AISI 2007. Flexural, torsional and torsional–flexural buckling of columns was considered as constraints. The optimization was made through the method of Simulated Annealing. Several numeric simulations are presented and discussed to validate the proposal and an experimental example that qualifies the implementation. The relations between lips, web width and flange width are analyzed. Finally, the process shows excellent results to reduce the cross section area.

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