Evolutionary computation in structural design

The paper provides the results of preliminary research on the application o f evolutionary computation to integrated structural design in,which a compl ex design support tool automatically conducts both conceptual and detailed design. In the paper a brief overview of the state of the art in evolutiona ry computation and its applications to structural design is provided. Next, Inventor 2000 is described. a unique research and structural design tool d eveloped by the authors at George Mason University that combines an evoluti onary computation component with a system for wind forces analysis, and a s ystem for the analysis, design and optimisation of steel structures. The pa per also presents the results of four structural design experiments conduct ed with Inventor 2000. The objective of experiments was to investigate vari ous forms of evolutionary computation as applied to structure design. Final ly, the paper provides the initial research conclusions and recommendations for further research.