Optimization process for thin-walled High Performance Concrete sandwich panels

A Nearly zero energy buildings are to become a requirement as part of the European energy pol-icy. There are many ways of designing nearly zero energy buildings, but there is a lack of knowledge on opti-mization processes in the sense of structurally and thermally efficient design with an optimal economical solu-tion. The present paper aims to provide multi-objective optimisation procedure addressed to structural precast thin-walled High Performance Concrete Sandwich Panels (HPCSP). The research aim is concerned with de-veloping a tool that considers the cost of HPCSP materials along with the specifications of the design con-strains and variables. The tool integrates the processes of HPCSP design, quantity take-off and cost estimation into a single system that would provide different costs for different HPCSP designs. The proposed multi-objective optimisation scheme results into derivation of basic design recommendations, regarding the materi-al’s strength and HPCSP’s geometrical parameters that fulfil the objective of minimum cost.