Optimum Design of Frames with Deflexion Constraints by Non-Linear Programming

In this paper a general method is proposed for optimization by non-linear programming. The method is used to design, for minimum weight, a family of fixed base pitched roof
frames for which the elastic deflexions are restricted by BS 449. The method is used to produce design charts which are presented in the paper and can be used directly for design purposes. They can be used to select optimum pitch for the frame and optimum sections of the members. A method is given to make use of the fact that a continuous
set of sections is not available in the safe load tables. Using these charts the optimum pitch and sections are selected from the available discrete sections. The programming problem is extended to deal with several unknowns and an example of the design of a pin-jointed frame with three unknowns is given.

K.I. Majid and D.W.C. Elliott
In the design of structures, the current standard sp