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In this thesis, multiple structural systems are investigated by utilizing the Harmony Search optimization algorithm for least weight optimization. An analytical overview of structural optimization, matrix analysis, damage tolerance, steel connections and structural reliability analysis and methodology are presented. To support the methodology, three example problems have been provided. The first example demonstrates damage tolerant optimization of a simple truss structure.

An experimental investigation of the perfomances of some highway drainage inlets is presented.

In this report are presented the results of an experiment conducted to compare the concretes produced at the seven manufactures of prestressed concretes produced at the seven manufacturers of prestressed concrete in Pennsylvania with regard to their potential in contributing to prestress losses.

The plane problem of two joined dissimilar materials containing a crack along their common interface and subjected to an isolated force acting at an interior point of one of the two materials is considered.

This report describes full scale tests of reinforced concrete pile caps. The testing program consisted of two pile caps with six steel H-piles embedded six inches into each cap. The purpose was to study a. the mode of failure at ultimate load, b. bond anchorage of high strength reinforcing bars, c. the effect of pile cap plates on the end condition of embedded piles, and d. load distribution among the piles at ultimate load.

This thesis presents the results of an experimental investigation of the probable causes of crack occurrence in the end regions of pretensioned prestressed concrete beams used for highway bridges.

The purposes of this work were to: 1. Find an analytical correlation between the transverse distributions of longitudinal transverse distributions of longitudinal bending moments nad the cross-sectional deflections in box-beam bridges. 2. Develop a practical method for the estimation of bending moments in box-beam bridges by the use of cross-sectional deflections.

Design for a steel mill building