An optimality criterion-based method developed in this research is capable of locating the optimal design of WF steel frames with members having general cross-sectional relationships among the area, moment of inertia, and section modulus. The method uses the idea of one most critical constraint to avoid the calculation of large sets of Lagrange multipliers, and also avoids the scaling procedure normally used in other optimality criterion techniques. Several example structures, designed under stress, displacement, and minimum area constraints, demonstrate the efficiency, reliability, and simplicity of the method. Although the method of this research uses the idea of one most critical constraint, the optimal designs presented in this paper have several active constraints.

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