Cost Optimization in Relation to Factory Structures

A cost optimization study of factory type structures is described. Investigations centre around those elements that provide the greatest variation in cost due to different structural forms and various available material products. A mathematical model of factory costs is constructed for the shell of the building and includes constraints on the design variables of both a structural and a practical nature. The resulting mathematical programming problems are solved by means of the Geometric Programming technique, sample results are presented, and general conclusions on the usefulness of the study are drawn.