THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RESPONSE SURFACE METHOD IN STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

Abstract

The finite element method (FEM) is a widely used tool for structural analysis. However, as an implicit method, FEM often demands substantial computational resources, posing challenges for iterative applications like reliability-based structural analysis and optimization. This study explores the use of the response surface method (RSM) to develop an explicit surrogate model, facilitating faster and more efficient structural computations. The principles of RSM are introduced, followed by an assessment of its effectiveness and accuracy through three structural case studies. Results from these examples demonstrate that RSM is well-suited for analyzing structural behavior, with the lowest performance observed for the displacement at the top of a plane frame (R² = 0.9897 using a full quadratic polynomial). These findings establish a foundation for further research in iterative computations, such as reliability analysis and optimization design.