The algorithm proposed utilizes the tow-levels technique. In the first level which consists of teeatment only the applied load and design stress as the random variables whose parent distribution has the normal distribution, the cross-sectional areas o...
The algorithm proposed utilizes the tow-levels technique. In the first level which consists of teeatment only the applied load and design stress as the random variables whose parent distribution has the normal distribution, the cross-sectional areas of the truss members such that the their probabilities of failure have the preseribed failure probabilites are optimized by transforming the nonlinear problem into SUMT, and solving it utilizing modified Newton-Raphson method. In the second level, the geometric shape of truss structure is optimized by utilizing the unidirectional search technique of Powell method which makes it possible to minimize only the objective function. The algorithm proposed is numerically tested for the several truss structures with various shapes and loading conditions. The numerical analysis shows that the rate of decreasing the weight of truss structures is dependent on the prescribed failure probability of the each member of truss structure and the covariance of the applied load and design stress.