A new form-finding method for shell structures based on BESO algorithm

Due to high efficiency and elegant geometry, shell structures are widely used in architectural and structural designs. This paper presents a new numerical form-finding method for the design of shell structures based on the bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) algorithm. This technique can perform topology optimization to find new forms of shell structures with high structural performance, elegant geometries, and other features that are of interest to architects and engineers. Diverse designs from the optimization process as a result of using different parameters in BESO are also discussed. Finally, the innovative results produced by the BESO method are compared with a well-known shell structure, the Palazzetto dello Sport, designed by Nervi.