Abstract:
This research presents an optimum design method of post-tensioned concrete flat plates with shear reinforcement. The three dimensional structure is idealized into two dimensional one by the Equivalent Frame Method. The Displacement and Direct Stiffness Methods are employed in analyzing the equivalent frame. The Simplex Method is used in the optimization process having the cost of flat plate as the objective function. The computation will start with a feasible solution. Constraints thus obtained will consist of non-linear terms. The linearization of such constraints is done by using the first and second terms of Taylor series. In the linear programing solver process, the computation will repeat until the optimum value is obtained. Solution convergence is accomplished by specifying the difference of the two consecutive values of cost to be less than 0.05%. However, it has been found that the solution may not converge due to the method used in the linearizing the constraints. In such case, the solution will be the minimum cost of flat plate selected from the total computation values. From the study, it has been shown that the Simplex Method can be successfully used in optimizing a post-tensioned concrete flat plate. From the selective examples, it has been found that the cost ratio of concrete : prestressing system : rebar is 61:27:12 and 51:42:7 for unbonded and bonded prestressing systems respectively. In addition, the cost of slab with bonded prestressing system is about 18 percent higher than the one with unbonded prestressing system