For this final assignment, I will be refining the generative design tool I created in Module 7. To provide a more holistic tool, I will expand the scope of the project to model an entire multistory structure. Additional user inputs will be added as well as an additions and further refinement to the evaluation tools originally provide in Module 7.
Intended users
The AEC industry is one that is full of complexities and involves many interdisciplinary design decision processes that often can lead to conflicting interests. This tool is meant to help with the early stages of the design process, allowing AEC professionals to come to an informed and collaborative decision on the most favorable interior building layout, which is heavily driven by the structural grid system. In order to simplify the problem, we will be looking at the feasibility in flat plate concrete construction.
Need you’re trying to provide a solution or support for
This tool will help AEC professionals select an ideal grid system during the early stages of design that that considers the trade-offs between the architectural comfort, the structural feasibility, as well as the constructability and costs of each design option.
Inputs
The design inputs included:
- Number of Columns in the X and Y direction
- Strength of Concrete
- Floor to Floor Height
- Number of Unique Column Elements
- Number of Stories
The constant variables that can be updated to fit user’s needs:
- Room X and Y Dimensions
- Factor of Safety
- Factored Distributed Load (PSF)
- Lower and Upper Limits of Concrete Costs
- Lower and Upper Limits for Construction Costs by floor level
- Slab Thickness
Underlying logic of the model you’ll implement
The model will take in the user defined inputs (both the design and constant variables) and generate various structural grid options with the main structural elements for flat plate construction (columns and slabs) that would be required. With this structural model, evaluators will compute the design options performance in areas relating to the architectural comfort of the space, the structural feasibility, and the cost for construction.
Outputs
- Structural Element to Room Ratio (Architectural Comfort)
- Open Space Between Grid (Architectural Comfort)
- Difference between spans (Architectural Comfort/Constructability)
- Cost of Construction (Construction)
- Column Force (Structural)
- Slab Deflections (Structural)