Convergence characteristics of the fully stressed design method for plane frames

It is the intent of this paper to investigate how the convergence rate of a fully stressed design method using a stress-ratio algorithm may be affected by manipulating various parameters. The parameters studied are: (1) selection of a design variable, (2) relationships between the variables of moment of inertia, area, and section modulus, (3) use of overrelaxation, (4) tolerance on scale factors, (5) initial input, and (6) number and type of loading conditions. Design examples illustrating the discussion of the various parameters are given.

The optimality of a fully stressed design approach and its use in industry is presented in a literature review, and discussion of the stress-ratio algorithm and the feasibility (convergence) of the fully stressed design method is also included.