Optimal distribution of metallic energy dissipation devices in multi-story buildings via local search heuristics

The metallic energy dissipation device (EDD) has been widely accepted as a useful tool for passive control of buildings against earthquakes. The distribution of metallic EDDs in a multi-story building may have significant influence on its seismic performance, which can be greatly enhanced if the distribution scheme is properly designed. This paper addresses the optimal distribution problem in the aim of achieving a desired level of performance using the minimum number of metallic EDDs. Five local search heuristic algorithms are proposed to solve the problem. Four base structures are presented as numerical examples to verify the proposed algorithms. It is indicated that the performance of different algorithms may vary when applied in different situations. Based on the results of the numerical verification, the recommended guidelines are finally proposed for choosing the appropriate algorithm in different occasions.