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Cost optimization of multi-story steel buildings during the conceptual design stage

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Abstract

Design optimization of steel structures significantly impacts cost reduction in buildings. However, previous studies mainly targeted optimizing individual structural elements in buildings, which is insufficient because the used structural system may not be the optimum one; hence, using a more suitable system leads to lower costs. Therefore, this study aims to develop a design aid to select the optimum system for steel structures in buildings concerning direct cost. The study covered low-, medium-, and high-rise buildings. This objective was achieved using a parametric study containing 27 3D FEM models for steel buildings of several stories ranging between 5 and 50 floors and grid sizes ranging between 6.0 and 12.0 m. Movement-resisting braced and dual systems are three structural systems considered. Accordingly, in the low- and medium-rise buildings (H/B < 3), the results indicated that the effect of lateral loads is minor, and the stiffness of a single-structure system (frames or braced frames) is enough to satisfy both safety and serviceability requirements. On the other hand, the effect of lateral loads is significant for high-rise buildings (H/B > 3), and consequently, a combination of both frames and braced frame systems (Dual system) must be used to satisfy the design requirements.

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Acknowledgements

The author, Hosam Elhegazy, gratefully acknowledges support from Future University in Egypt (FUE) and University of Cincinnati (UC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Structural Engineering and Construction Management Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt

    Hosam Elhegazy, Ahmed Ebid & Ibrahim Mahdi

  2. Structural Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Said AboulHaggag & Ibrahim AbdelRashid

Authors
  1. Hosam Elhegazy
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  2. Ahmed Ebid
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  3. Said AboulHaggag
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  4. Ibrahim Mahdi
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  5. Ibrahim AbdelRashid
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Correspondence to Hosam Elhegazy.

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Elhegazy, H., Ebid, A., AboulHaggag, S. et al. Cost optimization of multi-story steel buildings during the conceptual design stage. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 8, 36 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-022-00999-2

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