Optimisation of Absorbers Installed on a Bridge—Evolutionary Algorithm

The chapter delves into the critical issue of reducing vibrations in bridge structures, which are susceptible to dynamic loads such as wind, earthquakes, and traffic. It builds upon historical concepts of dynamic vibration absorbers (DVA), focusing on the optimization of absorber parameters and positions to minimize structural vibrations. The study employs an evolutionary algorithm, combining genetic algorithms and evolutionary strategies, to solve the complex optimization problem. The model considers a simply supported Euler–Bernoulli beam subjected to a sequence of moving forces with random amplitudes and inter-arrival times, modeled using a filtered Poisson process. The analysis covers both single and multiple absorber configurations, with numerical integration using Wolfram Mathematica to solve the resulting systems of ordinary differential equations. The chapter presents a detailed numerical analysis and results, highlighting the optimal positions of absorbers for different traffic directions and speeds. It concludes with insights into the asymmetry of optimal absorber positioning and suggests future research directions, including the optimization of absorbers under bidirectional force streams and the use of multiple-degree-of-freedom absorbers. The findings underscore the effectiveness of natural computing in solving civil engineering optimization problems and the importance of system symmetry in verifying calculation accuracy.