Reduce the construction cost of a 7-story RC public building with metaheuristic algorithms

In recent years, a few studies have been working on the optimization of 3D reinforced concrete structures. The number of research on this subject is increasing day by day. However, in these studies, the real world-structure is generally not used; moreover, only regular structures are used, and RC shear walls do not continue on all floors. Therefore, 3D evaluation of the optimization of real-world RC structures is possible for a small number of building types. There is a need for 3D optimization studies that can be used for all building types. In this study, 3D optimization of a real-world reinforced concrete structure is carried out. The sample structure used in the paper is not only a regular reinforced concrete-framed structure, unlike other studies, but also a RC framed structure with RC shear walls continuing on each floor. In the numerical example, the effect of the RC shear walls continuing on each floor is applied in the analysis, and the design processes of the construction projects on a real-world building and the quantity-cost analysis are made together. All optimization processes are directed automatically using the ACDOS programming, which is developed by the authors. ACDOS can take into account the commercial program named Etabs to make design of construction and the metaheuristic algorithms to reduce the total cost of construction. The results obtained from this study showed that the cost (concrete-rebar-formwork) of the 7-story public dormitory building was reduced by 9.18% when compared with its real-world application.