Integration of Engineering Optimization in Architectural Design
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 30, Issue 4
Abstract
The recent advancements in theories and numerical methods of engineering optimization have paved the way for the widespread application of computational techniques in architectural and structural design, as well as software development. This paper is focused on exploring the practical implementation of various optimization strategies within architectural and structural design contexts. By utilizing mesh generation algorithms, intricate geometries inherent to architectural and structural design can be systematically constructed and discretized, facilitating analysis, design, and optimization processes. In the domain of grid-shell design, achieving optimal and aesthetic forms while adhering to engineering constraints is essential. This research explores grid-shell form finding and optimization, using a potential energy-based algorithm to reach equilibrium in grid-shell structures. Subsequent size optimization addresses stress and buckling concerns to ensure structural robustness. For long-span structures, often desired for their creation of expansive spaces and incorporation of architectural design principles, structural performance optimization is achieved using topology optimization. This study explores multiple manufacturing constraints embedded within topology optimization to enhance the feasibility of realizing topologically optimized material configurations. Another area of engineering optimization is in roof truss and frame design, aimed at creating distinctive and aesthetically pleasing configurations beyond traditional forms while meeting engineering load combinations and design criteria. To generate unique forms for roof truss structures, the genetic algorithm is employed in this study. This algorithmic approach facilitates diverse geometrical configurations while maintaining required strength and serviceability criteria. Through these studies, the paper highlights the transformative potential of optimization methodologies in shaping innovative architectural and structural designs with enhanced efficiency and functionality.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the support by the Innovative and Interdisciplinary Research Program of Syracuse University (Grant No. II-50-2021).
References
AISC. 2022. An American national standard: Specification for structural steel buildings. ANSI/AISC 360-22. Chicago: AISC.
ASCE. 2021. Minimum design loads and associated criteria for buildings and other structures. ASCE/SEI 7-22. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ASTM. 2017. Standard specification for high-strength low-alloy columbium- vanadium structural steel. ASTM A572/A572M. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Aurenhammer, F. 1991. “Voronoi diagrams—a survey of a fundamental geometric data structure.” ACM Comput. Surv. 23 (3): 345–405. https://doi.org/10.1145/116873.116880.
Baek, C., A. O. Sageman-Furnas, M. K. Jawed, and P. M. Reis. 2018. “Form finding in elastic gridshells.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 115 (1): 75–80. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1713841115.
Barnes, M. R. 1999. “Form finding and analysis of tension structures by dynamic relaxation.” Int. J. Space Struct. 14 (2): 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1260/0266351991494722.
Bendsøe, M. P., and O. Sigmund. 2004. Topology optimization. Berlin, HL: Springer.
Boggs, P. T., and J. W. Tolle. 1995. “Sequential quadratic programming.” Acta Numer. 4: 1–51. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0962492900002518.
Bouhaya, L., O. Baverel, and J.-F. Caron. 2015. “Optimization of gridshell bar orientation using a simplified genetic approach.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 50 (5): 839–848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-014-1088-9.
Burkhardt, B., and F. Otto. 1978. IL 13: Multihalle Mannheim. Stuttgart: Freunde und Förderer der Leichtbauforschung.
Chun, J., G. H. Paulino, and J. Song. 2019a. “Reliability-based topology optimization by ground structure method employing a discrete filtering technique.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 60 (3): 1035–1058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-019-02255-1.
Chun, J., J. Song, and G. G. H. Paulino. 2019b. “System-reliability-based design and topology optimization of structures under constraints on first-passage probability.” Struct. Saf. 76: 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2018.06.006.
CSI (Computers and Structures). 2023. “SAP2000 integrated software for structural analysis and design.” Berkeley, CA: CSI.
Deaton, J. D., and V. R. Grandhi. 2014. “A survey of structural and multidisciplinary continuum topology optimization: Post 2000.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 49 (1): 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-013-0956-z.
Du, Q., V. Faber, and M. Gunzburger. 1999. “Centroidal Voronoi tessellations: Applications and algorithms.” SIAM Rev. 41 (4): 637–676. https://doi.org/10.1137/S0036144599352836.
Filipov, E. T., J. Chun, G. H. Paulino, and J. Song. 2016. “Polygonal multiresolution topology optimization (PolyMTop) for structural dynamics.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 53 (4): 673–694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-015-1309-x.
Fleury, C. 1979. “Structural weight optimization by dual methods of convex programming.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 14 (12): 1761–1783. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.v14:12.
Goldberg, D. E. D. E. 1989. Genetic algorithms in search, optimization, and machine learning. Boston: Addison-Wesley Longman.
Guest, J. K., J. H. Prévost, and T. Belytschko. 2004. “Achieving minimum length scale in topology optimization using nodal design variables and projection functions.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 61 (2): 238–254. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.v61:2.
Haftka, R. T., and Z. Gurdal. 1992. Elements of structural optimization. Netherlands: Springer.
He, Y., K. Cai, Z.-L. Zhao, and Y. M. Xie. 2020. “Stochastic approaches to generating diverse and competitive structural designs in topology optimization.” Finite Elem. Anal. Des. 173: 103399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finel.2020.103399.
Holland, J. H. 1975. Adaptation in natural and artificial systems: An introductory analysis with applications to biology, control, and artificial intelligence. Oxford, England: Univ. Michigan Press.
IBC. 2024. International building code. 2024. Washington, DC: International Code Council, INC.
Huerta, S. 2006. “Structural Design in the Work of Gaudí.” Archit. Sci. Rev. 49 (4): 324–339. https://doi.org/10.3763/asre.2006.4943.
Krog, L., A. Tucked, M. Kemp, and R. Boyd. 2004. “Topology optimization of aircraft wing box ribs.” In Vol. 3 of Proc., 10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conf., 2020–2030. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Martínez-Frutos, J., P. J. Martínez-Castejón, and D. Herrero-Pérez. 2017. “Efficient topology optimization using GPU computing with multilevel granularity.” Adv. Eng. Software 106: 47–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2017.01.009.
Mueller, C. T., and J. A. Ochsendorf. 2015. “Combining structural performance and designer preferences in evolutionary design space exploration.” Autom. Constr. 52: 70–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2015.02.011.
Osanov, M., and J. K. Guest. 2016. “Topology optimization for architected materials design.” Annu. Rev. Mater. Res. 46 (1): 211–233. https://doi.org/10.1146/matsci.2016.46.issue-1.
Otto, F., E. Schauer, J. Hennicke, and T. Hasegawa. 1974. Gitterschalen grid shells. Institut für Leichte Flächentragwerke IL 10, 340.
Pham, D., and D. Karaboga. 2000. Intelligent optimisation techniques. Genetic algorithms, tabu search, simulated annealing and neural networks. London: Springer.
Richardson, J. N., S. Adriaenssens, R. Filomeno Coelho, and P. Bouillard. 2013. “Coupled form-finding and grid optimization approach for single layer grid shells.” Eng. Struct. 52: 230–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2013.02.017.
Rozvany, G. I. 2009. “A critical review of established methods of structural topology optimization.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 37 (3): 217–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-007-0217-0.
Sakai, Y., M. Ohsaki, and S. Adriaenssens. 2020. “A 3-dimensional elastic beam model for form-finding of bending-active gridshells.” Int. J. Solids Struct. 193–194: 328–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.02.034.
Schek, H. J. 1974. “The force density method for form finding and computation of general networks.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 3 (1): 115–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(74)90045-0.
Sigmund, O. 2009. “Manufacturing tolerant topology optimization.” Acta Mech. Sin. 25 (2): 227–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-009-0240-z.
Sokół, T. 2011. “A 99 line code for discretized Michell truss optimization written in Mathematica.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 43 (2): 181–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-010-0557-z.
Sundaram, S., M. Skouras, D. S. Kim, L. van den Heuvel, and W. Matusik. 2019. “Topology optimization and 3D printing of multimaterial magnetic actuators and displays.” Sci. Adv. 5 (7): eaaw1160. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw1160.
Sutradhar, A., G. H. Paulino, M. J. Miller, and T. H. Nguyen. 2010. “Topological optimization for designing patient-specific large craniofacial segmental bone replacements.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107 (30): 13222–13227. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1001208107.
Svanberg, K. 1987. “The method of moving asymptotes: a new method for structural optimization.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 24 (2): 359–373. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.v24:2.
Talischi, C., G. H. Paulino, A. Pereira, and I. F. Menezes. 2012. “PolyMesher: A general-purpose mesh generator for polygonal elements written in Matlab.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim. 45 (3): 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-011-0706-z.
Turrin, M., P. von Buelow, A. Kilian, and R. Stouffs. 2012. “Performative skins for passive climatic comfort: A parametric design process.” Autom. Constr. 22: 36–50. Planning Future Cities - Selected papers from the 2010 eCAADe Conference. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2011.08.001.
Yang, K., Z.-L. Zhao, Y. He, S. Zhou, Q. Zhou, W. Huang, and Y. M. Xie. 2019. “Simple and effective strategies for achieving diverse and competitive structural designs.” Extreme Mech. Lett. 30: 100481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2019.100481.
Zhang, L. Y., Y. Li, Y. P. Cao, and X. Q. Feng. 2014. “Stiffness matrix based form-finding method of tensegrity structures.” Eng. Struct. 58: 36–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2013.10.014.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 30 • Issue 4 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 8, 2023
Accepted: Jun 18, 2024
Published online: Sep 18, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Feb 18, 2025
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.