Spatial zoning for better structural topology design and performance. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Claessens, Dennis P.H.; Boonstra, Sjonnie; Hofmeyer, Hèrm
• Is Part Of: Advanced engineering informatics. Volume 46(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Building spatial design -- Structural design -- Stabilization -- Zoning; Computer-aided engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 620.00285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aei.2020.101162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-0346

Abstract

Abstract: A new three-dimensional spatial zoning procedure that has been tailored to structural design is presented in this work. Zoning is the grouping of spaces or sub-parts of spaces such that the resulting spatial layout is logical from a disciplinary perspective. Two automated structural design methods, so-called grammars, have been defined to generate structural designs for zoned building spatial designs. The first grammar, here termed stable design grammar, places structural slabs at the boundaries of a zone, and columns at places where a zone intersects with a space. The second grammar, here termed unstable grammar, generates a structural frame that is unstable by definition. Via a new stabilization method, which is also presented in this work, the unstable structural frame is stabilized by considering the boundaries of a zone for the placement of stabilizing measures. In a case study, the zoning procedure is applied in conjunction with each of the design grammars to three distinct building spatial designs. The case study shows—for both design grammars—that structural designs use less material and are stiffer when they are generated based on a zoned building spatial design. Moreover, the zoning procedure has been tailored such that it yields a subset of all possible zoned designs for which, in general, the generated structural designs perform well.