Optimal modelling of steel multi-span beams using the gradient-iterative method

The article describes the gradient-iterative optimization method and outlines the method’s basic assumptions and illustrates its general use. The method’s implementation was illustrated based on a steel I-beam. The described calculation example concerns the optimization of the height of the web of a multi-span beam. The method enables finding an optimal solution with the use of simple and commonly available software. To illustrate the effectiveness of the optimization method, multiple calculations were performed for beams with various spans and various load conditions.