Assessment of various code provisions based on optimum design of steel structures

This paper presents some comparative design results of typical structural systems in accordance with various code provisions, such as UBC and ATC-03 of the U.S. and TJ-11–78 of China. The solution comparisons are based on an optimization scheme for a given set of constraints and objective functions. Three levels of recursive procedures are employed in the algorithm to search for an optimum weight or construction cost including damages. Numerical examples are provided to compare the design results based on the aforementioned code provisions.