ABSTRACT
As part of a wider research project into optimization, a method has been developed for determining the relative cost of various nodal connection details for the CUBIC Space Frame. The method involves consideration of the main factors which contribute to cost, separately identifying the effects of setup, handling and process times in addition to material and overhead costs. A simple analysis of some typical results in the paper suggests that the relative costs of the selected nodal connections are not significantly affected by even quite large variations in the assumed data. The results confirm earlier findings that thinner stiffeners tend to be more cost effective subject to satisfying structural and geometrical constraints. For optimally designed stiffeners the effect of stiffener type appears to be less significant.
