For my final assignment, I want to create a design assistant. I want to combine my interest in structural design and sustainability to create a tool for structural designers. This tool will parametrically design a structural system for a building of given dimensions.
Intended users
This could be used by structural engineers.
Need you’re trying to provide a solution or support for
This tool can help implement more sustainability into structural system designs by comparing the embodied carbon and energy efficiency of different design options.
Inputs
The inputs will be the structural system material (concrete, steel, timber); structural system type (beams or trusses); and building size (height, width, length).
Underlying logic of the model you’ll implement
I will create a rectangle defined by the size inputs, determine the number of bays, and then add lines to define the beams/trusses in Dynamo. I will take the dimensions and material of the structural elements to determine the embodied carbon of the structural system based on assumptions about the carbon impact of each material. I will calculate the volume and surface area of the structure to compute the ratio.
Outputs
The outputs will be the embodied carbon (based on structural member sizes and material) and the surface area to volume ratio (to compare energy efficiency).