Part 1
Step 1: Set Up a Building Model to be Flexed and Tested Using One of the Examples Revit Conceptual Mass Forms
The conceptual form I chose: Twisting Rounded Triangular Mass
I edited the family a little bit. Some parameters were locked, and some formulas were created.
New levels were added.
The project location was set for San Francisco.
I set base constraints in family, and the right image showed what it was like in the project file.
“Top Rotation” would be the single set of input values as inputs for the instance parameters.
Step 2: Build the Dynamo Graph Logic to Flex One of the Form’s Parameters
Dynamo logic was created. Since only one parameter was needed, “Top Rotation” was selected, while other values were fixed. I also added the degree of rotation angles to the final reported list for clarity.
This is the edited custom node used. I adjusted the inputs. I created a combined list of outputs.
Step 3: Report the evaluation metrics for at least six alternative design scenarios.
This is the video showing the simulation process. The video shows the variations in place of multiple screenshots.
Test Cases | Top Rotation (°) | Gross Floor Area (SF) | Gross Surface Area (SF) | Gross Volume (CF) |
1 | 30 | 132642.4 | 134818.4 | 1934978 |
2 | 45 | 134545.7 | 135423.9 | 1963635 |
3 | 60 | 136948.5 | 136155.2 | 1999777 |
4 | 75 | 139609.9 | 136912.3 | 2039808 |
5 | 90 | 142260.4 | 137588.1 | 2079646 |
6 | 105 | 144615.8 | 138075.8 | 2115035 |
7 | 120 | 146403 | 138277.1 | 2141900 |
This is the table recording the data from Excel. The gross floor area, gross surface area, and gross volume of a total of seven test cases were recorded.
Part 2
Step 4: Create a new building form of my own design to be flexed and tested.
This is the tower form I created. It has the shape of an “S”. The tower can be twisted. A lot of dimensions could be adjusted, but the basic form is fixed. Some formulas were created to control the form.
These are the parameters of the new twisting tower form. I locked some values. In the later steps, the two inputs that could be adjusted are “Top Height” and “Top Rotation”.
This is how the building looks in Revit project mode.
Step 5: Build the Node Logic to Flex Two of the Form’s Parameters
They are basically the same nodes. The only difference is that there are more input values to test and export.
This is the custom node with the additional input and output values.
Step 6: Report the evaluation metrics for six additional design scenarios using this new building form.
This is the video showing the changing forms of fifteen different test cases. The video shows the variations in place of multiple screenshots.
Test Cases | Top Height (’) | Top Rotation (°) | Gross Floor Area (SF) | Gross Surface Area (SF) | Gross Volume (CF) |
1 | 300 | 30 | 95999.54 | 97058.92 | 1439981 |
2 | 300 | 45 | 95997.66 | 97143.91 | 1439946 |
3 | 300 | 60 | 95992.64 | 97260.55 | 1439853 |
4 | 300 | 75 | 95982.12 | 97406.02 | 1439664 |
5 | 300 | 90 | 95963.1 | 97577.37 | 1439347 |
6 | 390 | 30 | 124799.4 | 121532.7 | 1871970 |
7 | 390 | 45 | 124796.9 | 121597.5 | 1871927 |
8 | 390 | 60 | 124790.2 | 121686.2 | 1871804 |
9 | 390 | 75 | 124776.3 | 121797 | 1871570 |
10 | 390 | 90 | 124751.1 | 121926.1 | 1871147 |
11 | 480 | 30 | 153599.2 | 146251.8 | 2303973 |
12 | 480 | 45 | 153596.1 | 146304.2 | 2303922 |
13 | 480 | 60 | 153587.9 | 146375.4 | 2303776 |
14 | 480 | 75 | 153570.5 | 146463 | 2303446 |
15 | 480 | 90 | 153539.2 | 146564.6 | 2302944 |
This is the table of data from Excel showing different “Top Height” and “Top Rotation”. The gross floor area, gross surface area, and gross volume of fifteen test cases were recorded.
In conclusion, the parameter that could flex the building form in Part 1 is “Top Rotation”. The parameters that could flex the building form in Part 2 are “Top Height” and “Top Rotation”. Within the range I set, there would not be any errors.