The use of topology optimization in the design of truss and frame bridge girders

It is shown that topology optimization is a valuable tool for the design of bridge girders. This paper is a follow-up to (Kutylowski and Rasiak 2014) and it includes an analysis of truss members' outer dimensions dictated by the standards. Moreover, a frame bridge girder mapped from a selected topology is compared with a typical frame girder on the basis of (Kutylowski and Rasiak 2014). The analysis shows that topology optimization by means of the proposed algorithm yields a topology from which one can map a frame bridge girder requiring less material for its construction than the typical frame girder currently used in bridge construction.