DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE WAFFLE SLAB USING GENETIC ALGORITHM

Abstract

This research presents the optimization techniques for reinforced concrete waffle slab design because the code cannot provide an efficient and optimum design. Waffle slab is mostly used where there is necessity to avoid column interfering the spaces or for a slab with large span or as an aesthetic purpose. Design optimization has been carried out here with MATLAB, using genetic algorithm. The objective function include the overall cost of reinforcement, concrete and formwork while the variables comprise of the depth of the rib including the topping thickness, rib width, and ribs spacing. The optimization constraints are the minimum and maximum areas of steel, flexural moment capacity, shear capacity and the geometry. The optimized cost and slab dimensions are obtained through genetic algorithm in MATLAB. The optimum steel ratio is 2.2% with minimum slab dimensions. The outcomes indicate that the design of reinforced concrete waffle slabs can be effectively carried out using the optimization process of genetic algorithm.