Cost-Effective Design of Structural Elements through the

Abstract

In the design of structural elements, there is usually more than one feasible and equally safe solution, even though not all of them may be cost-effective. Obtaining the cost-effective design out of the numerous designs is tedious, cumbersome and time-consuming. This work present the result of optimization process of a structural element carried out by using the numerical features of the Excel software. In the optimizing process, cost effectiveness in terms of area reinforcement and cross section is required, but subject to the constraints of deflection and cracking imposed by the Standard in operation. The result shows that optimal design of any structural element can be achieved by following the proposed methodology. The method also has the added advantage of reuse once it is put in operation.