Cable Force Optimization of Cable-Stayed Bridge Based on Multiobjective Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with Mutation Operation and the Influence Matrix

Abstract

To compensate the incapability of traditional cable force adjustment methods to automatically optimize cable forces, this paper proposes Midas/Civil and MATLAB as a structure calculator and a cable force optimizer, and external memory as a data transfer. Initial solutions from conventional methods can be optimized by internalizing the influence matrix into the multiobjective particle swarm optimization algorithm with mutation operation and constructing the mathematical model of cable force optimization, and then, a series of Pareto frontier solution sets are obtained. For the first time, fuzzy set theory is introduced for selecting Pareto presolution set for the optimization of cable-stayed bridges, to solve the final reasonable dead load state of bridges. By using this method, the peak vertical displacement of a main girder of the optimized cable-stayed bridge decreased from −11 mm to −6 mm, with a reduction of 45%. Before and after optimization, the difference of peak negative bending moment at the top of the pier was 34.8%, indicating that the main beam was more evenly stressed and the alignment was more reasonable.