AN ENGINEERING APPROACH TO MULTICRITERIA OPTIMIZATION OF BRIDGE STRUCTURES

: This paper presents an approach to multicriteria optimization of engineering structures and structural systems based on the use of the constraint approach for generating efficient solutions and compromise programming for selecting the “best” or satisficing solution. The criteria of minimax and minimum Euclidian distance provide the designer with a rationale for the choice of the best solution. For system optimization problems, the definition of a dominant criterion and compromise programming lead to a practical approach to the design of large-scale structural systems. The approach is illustrated by two examples of optimizing prestressed concrete highway bridges, including selection of the optimal system.