Layout and Size Optimization of Reinforced Concrete Flat Slab Buildings

This paper presents column layout and size optimization of Reinforced concrete (RC) flat slab buildings to BS 8110 code of practice. The objective function is the total cost of the building including the cost of floors, columns and foundations. The total cost of the building includes the cost of material and labour for reinforcement, concrete and formwork of structural elements. Excavation cost is also considered for foundations The optimization process is handled in three levels. In the first level the optimum layout of building is determined through an exhaustive search. In the second level the optimum cross-sectional dimensions of RC elements are found using a hybrid algorithm based on genetic algorithm (GA).In the third level an exhaustive search is applied to seek the optimum size and number of steel bars for each individual type of structural elements Two practical examples are given to demonstrate the achieved cost savings