The present study is concerned with the simultaneous optimization of the size of components and the arrangement of connections for performance-based seismic design of low-rise SPSWs. Design variables include the size of beams and columns, the thickness of the infill panels, the type of each beam-to-column connection and the type of each infill-to-boundary frame connection. The objective functio...

In the present study, the computational performance of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) harmony search (HS) and firefly algorithm (FA), as popular metaheuristics, is investigated for size and shape optimization of truss structures. The PSO was inspired by the social behavior of organisms such as bird flocking. The HS imitates the musical performance process which takes place when a musicia...

Several proposals exist for human Mars mission architectures. An important question to resolve is determine the most appropriate size of launcher minimize costs, without compromising with risks, efficiency and future developments. Strategic choices are proposed. A fundamental choice direct surface option, one that greatly simplifies architecture avoids a complex costly LEO assembly giant vehicl...