No description available.

Parametric design has proven to be a powerful tool for structural engineers to find innovativesolutions to complex problems more effectively compared to conventional methods. Theflexibility off parametric design is immense since all types of structures depend on a range ofparameters that can be isolated, controlled and altered.In this thesis a parametric model was built with the software Grasshopper to manage thedesign process of a common type of foundation improvement. The technique has beensuccessfully used by Tyréns AB on several 19th century buildings in Stockholm in the pastdecade. The buildings were settling due to decay of the original wooden piles. To stop furthersettlements steel piles are drilled from under the building down to the bedrock. In thebasement of the buildings new and thick reinforced concrete slabs are cast which are connectedto the ground walls with concrete corbels.The available area for the installation of these corbels, the minimum distances between thecorbels and the dimensions of each corbel are all contributing factors that limit the number ofpossible design configurations. The dimensions of the concrete corbels affect the maximumload capacity which will determine their quantity and position. The corbels have to carry thevarying line loads and point loads acting on the ground walls from the structure above.With the plug-in finite element software Karamba, reaction forces in each pile were calculatedwhich also affected the possible designs.A well-functioning and adaptable parametric model presented logical results where decreasingheight of the concrete slab was affecting the capacity of each corbel which in turn generated alarger number of corbels. The model offered both manual control and automatic optimizationwhere real time variations of loads and reactions were shown depending on the changingdesign.In the optimization process which was based on genetic algorithm a cost function to deal withthe numerous contributing parameters was designed.Verification of important results increased the confidence in the model in most cases but thelack of trust in the calculated moments of each shell element created limitations. The thesisdoes not include a complete finite element analysis of the structures generated by theparametric model. However, it presents a simple export process to the third party softwareFEM-Design for verification.The role of the model was therefore not to work as a complete solution but as a powerful andeasy-to-use design tool for the structural designer to get instant feedback of chosen corbelplacements. The model offered a simplified way of achieving more slender and economicstructures both financially as well as environmentally.Parametric design was shown to be successful for solving structural problems if the model wasbased on appropriate engineering judgements.

In this paper the parametric design and functional optimisation of thin-walled structures made from plastics for food packaging is considered. These objects are produced in such vast numbers each year that one important task in the design of these objects is to minimise the amount of plastic used, subject to functional constraints, to reduce the costs of production and to conserve raw materials. By means of performing an automated optimisation on the possible shapes of the food containers, where the geometry is parametrised succinctly, a strategy to create the optimal design of the containers subject to a given set of functional constraints is demonstrated.

No / This work aims to develop a personalised avatar based virtual environment for motivating weight loss and weight management. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic which has not only enormous resource impact for the healthcare systems but also has substantial health as well as a psychological effect among the individuals who are affected. We propose to tackle this issue via the development of a personalised avatar, the form of which can be adjusted to show the present and the future self of the individual. For the avatar design and development phase, we utilise a parametric based mathematical formulation derived from the solutions of a chosen elliptic partial differential equation. This method not only enables us to generate a parameterised avatar model, but it also allows us to quickly and efficiently create various avatar shapes corresponding to different body weights and even to different body postures. / This research was funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (project reference PB-PG-1215-20016).

The AEC-industry need to respond to multiple requirements from regulations and clients, leading to that building projects are becoming increasingly complex to handle for designers. CAD or computer aided design is a way to handle these challenges, and within CAD a new method is emerging: Computational design enables users to generate and explore design solutions automatically. The purpose of this study was to investigate how computational design can be used and what limitations architects and engineers experience with it.   A qualitative research approach was chosen to get in depth understanding. To get variation 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted as primary data collection coupled with a literature review as theoretical framework. The thesis found that computational design applies both design thinking and computational thinking, it is an iterative process that generates design by altering parameters or algorithms and affects the intended design. In this thesis it also needs to be part of the AEC design process. Computational design was found to have most potential in early stage but can be useful for engineers in later stage as well.  Computational design can be used to increase workflow efficiency through automation and rapid feedback which can improve communication and collaboration. It can also increase solution performance by generating design based on multiple objectives. Furthermore, it enables users to expand their solution space and solve complex problems too difficult to solve otherwise. Computational design can be used to analyze early building concepts, analyze floorplans, to optimize material consumption, material choices, structural elements, energy efficiency, daylight, and acoustic requirements. Challenges found were on an individual level a steep learning curve, increased complexity, collection of trustworthy data and interpretation of data. Challenges on an organizational level were fear of automation, low support from leaders, low understanding of the subject from clients and colleges, unsuitable business models, and traditional processes. Furthermore, performance was found to be limited by computers and software capabilities.  Future research should focus on investigating solutions for the many challenges identified in this thesis. Additionally, further applications should be investigated in a narrower scope; a specific type of building or a general element, preferably avoiding repetition of applications in this study. It would also be of interest to investigate challenges of participants on an international scale, experienced with generative design and textual programming languages since these were found to be difficult to learn and apply. / Byggprojekt har blivit mer komplexa för projektörer och arkitekter att hantera då AEC branschen behöver uppfylla flera lagar och regler samt krav från beställare. En teknik för att möta detta behov är med CAD eller computer-aided-design, och inom CAD har en ny metod växt fram: Computational design möjliggör att automatiskt generera och utforska design lösningar. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka hur computational design kan användas och vilka begränsningar arkitekter och ingenjörer upplever med det.  En kvalitativ metod valdes för att få en djupare förståelse. För att öka variationen av studien genomfördes 16 semi-strukturerade intervjuer som primär data kombinerat med en litteraturstudie som teoretiskt ramverk. Det framkom att computational design applicerar både designtänkande och computational thinking, är en iterativ process som genererar design genom att ändra parametrar eller algoritmer och påverkar den avsedda designen. I den här studien är computational design också en del av branschens design process. Det framkom också att Computational design har störst potential i tidigt skede men kan också vara användbar för ingenjörer i senare skede. Computational design kan användas till att öka arbetsflödets effektivitet genom automation och snabb feedback, vilket kan förbättra kommunikation och samarbete. Det kan också öka prestandan för lösningar genom att generera design baserat på flera kriterier. Vidare så möjliggör det för användare att öka antalet möjliga designlösningar och lösa komplexa problem som är för svåra att hantera traditionellt. Computational design kan användas till att analysera byggnadskoncept, analysera planlösningar, samt till att optimera materialanvändning, materialval, konstruktioner, energieffektivitet, dagsljus, och akustik. De utmaningar som hittades var på en individuell nivå: brant inlärningskurva, ökad komplexitet, hitta tillförlitliga data och tolka data. På organisationsnivå var utmaningarna: rädsla för automatisering, lågt stöd från ledningen, låg förståelse för ämnet av kunder och kollegor, olämpliga affärsmodeller, och traditionella processer. Prestanda begränsades även av förmågan hos datorer och mjukvaror. Framtida forskning bör fokusera på att undersöka lösningar på de utmaningarna som identifierades i den här studien. Ytterligare applikationer bör också undersökas i högre detalj till exempel som en kategori av byggnader eller ett specifikt byggnadselement som förekommer generellt, företrädesvis utan repetition av denna studie. Det vore också av intresse att undersöka utmaningar för deltagare internationellt som har erfarenhet av generativ design och textuell programmering, då dessa visades ha större svårighet.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to increase the possibilities of designing building components for specific demands to increase the building’s value, and to investigate how the possibilities can be affected by automating the production process. Method: The theoretical framework, which this study is based on, was collected using literature studies and was thereafter combined with the empirics, which were retrieved from qualitative methods as interviews and planned observations. A case study was made of the building Ormhuset in Jönköping. Findings: The objective of this work is to investigate the possibilities for designing roofs by using new automation methods for the production process of wooden roof structures. This study implies that parametric design can be used to generate new innovative shapes and designs that are optimised according to specific criteria. Furthermore, an increased use of automation in the production process of wooden roof trusses result in cheaper roof trusses, regardless of their shapes. The generated optimized designs are therefore cheaper and easier to produce using more automation in the production process. Implications: If parametric design is used, almost any kind of shapes can be generated and optimised. To ensure manufacturability of a design, an early connection between architect and manufacturer is important. Furthermore, increased use of automation can lead to easier and faster production of roof trusses and investing in more automation can be relevant for companies with large production volumes. Using digital files to control the manufacturing machines is time saving. There are alternative manufacturing methods for advanced roof structurers in wood, which are better suited for production, which cannot be rationalized as for roof trusses. Constraints for increased automation are often a high investment cost and limited space. Limitations: If the study is performed on another case than Ormhuset and with other respondents, the result might have differed but could be similar, why this study is not generally valid but only shows one possible outcome. / Syfte: Syftet med detta arbete är att öka möjligheterna att utforma byggnadsdelar efter specifika behov för att öka en byggnads värde, samt undersöka hur möjligheterna kan påverkas genom att automatisera tillverkningsprocessen. Metod: Den teori som arbetet grundas på har samlats in via litteraturstudier och har därefter kombinerats med empiri som framkommit genom kvalitativa insamlingsmetoder i form av intervjuer och planerade observationer. En fallstudie av byggnaden Ormhuset i Jönköping har genomförts. Resultat: Målet med detta arbete är att studera möjligheter inom utformning av tak som ges av nya automationsmetoder vid tillverkning av takkonstruktioner i trä. Studien har visat att parametrisk design kan användas för att generera nya innovativa former och utformningar som är optimerade utefter specifika kriterier. Vidare kan ökad användning av automation vid tillverkning av takstolar i trä leda till billigare takstolar oberoende av form. De optimerade utformningar som tagits fram blir alltså billigare och lättare att tillverka vid en mer automatiserad tillverkningsprocess. Konsekvenser: Om parametrisk design används kan i stort sett vilka utformningar som helst tas fram och optimeras. För att säkerställa producerbarheten av en utformning är en tidig koppling mellan arkitekt och tillverkare viktig. Vidare kan en ökad automation medföra enklare och snabbare tillverkning av takstolar, och en investering i mer automation kan vara relevant för företag med stora produktionsvolymer. Används digitala produktionsfiler för att styra de tillverkande maskinerna kan tid sparas in. Det finns alternativa produktionssätt för avancerade takkonstruktioner i trä som är bättre lämpade då tillverkningen inte kan rationaliseras på samma sätt som för takstolar. Begränsande faktorer för en ökad automation är ofta en hög investeringskostnad och utrymmesbrist. Begränsningar: Om studien istället utförs för ett annat fall än Ormhuset och därmed med andra respondenter hade kunnat resultera i andra, men kanske snarlika, resultat, varför denna studie inte är generellt giltig utan enbart visar ett möjligt utfall.

Within the aerospace design, analysis and optimization community, there is an increasing demand to finalize the preliminary design phase of the wing as quickly as possible without losing much on accuracy. This includes rapid generation of designs, an early adaption of higher fidelity models and automation in structural analysis of the internal structure of the wing. To perform the structural analysis, the aerodynamic load can be transferred to the wing using many different methods. Generally, for preliminary analysis, indirect load transfer method is used and for detailed analysis, direct load transfer method is used. For the indirect load transfer method, load is discretized using shear-moment-torque (SMT) curve and applied to ribs of the wing. For the direct load transfer method, the load is distributed using one-way Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) and applied to the skin of the wing. In this research, structural analysis is performed using both methods and the nodal displacement is compared. Further, to optimize the internal structure, iterative changes are made in the number of structural members. To accommodate these changes in geometry as quickly as possible, the parametric design method is used through Engineering SketchPad (ESP). ESP can also provide attributions the geometric feature and generate multi-fidelity models consistently. ESP can generate the Nastran mesh file (.bdf) with the nodes and the elements grouped according to their geometric attributes. In this research, utilizing the attributions and consistency in multi-fidelity models an API is created between ESP and Nastran to automatize the multi-fidelity structural optimization. This API generates the design with appropriate parameters and mesh file using ESP. Through the attribution in the mesh file, the API works as a pre-processor to apply material properties, boundary condition, and optimization parameters. The API sends the mesh file to Nastran and reads the results file to iterate the number of the structural member in design. The result file is also used to transfer the nodal deformation from lower-order fidelity structural models onto the higher-order ones to have multi-fidelity optimization. Here, static structural optimization on the whole wing serves as lower fidelity model and buckling optimization on each stiffened panel serves as higher fidelity model. To further extend this idea, a parametric model of the whole aircraft is also created.<br>