Please enter the following info in the fields above:
Your Name as the Card title
The link to your Module 7 folder in our Autodesk Construction Cloud project
Please also type the first few letters of your first name into the Link to Student field, then hover over your name from the list of matching records and click the blue plus sign to link this entry to your Design Journal.
Then, share your Design Journal entry here (replacing these instructions) ... Click the text area below the headers and just start typing your response. There's no need to add new properties.
Please include:
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Step 1 - Generative Design Framework
A very brief description of the design decisions from Step 1 following the Generative Design Framework.
Structural Material Sustainability v.s. Cost
Design Variables
Material type
Level of prefabrication
Local material availability
Cost per unit weight
Typical member size
Evaluators
Embodied carbon
Structural performance
Construction schedule impacts
Construction cost
Most Important Tradeoffs to Consider
Lower-carbon materials may increase upfront costs.
Lightweight systems can reduce foundation demands but may require additional vibration control or fire protection.
Prefabrication can reduce waste and improve construction speed but may increase transportation costs.
Sustainable materials may have longer lead times or higher costs depending on regional availability.
Flexibility v.s. Structural Efficiency
Design Variables
Structural bay spacing
Floor system type and span capability
Column spacing and grid layout
Beam and slab depth
Occupancy and loading requirements
Evaluators
Floor-to-floor height
Total structural material volume
Architectural flexibility and usable space
Most Important Tradeoffs to Consider
Larger spans reduce the number of columns but require heavier structural members.
Smaller bays reduce member sizes but increase column and foundation quantities.
Deeper structural systems improve span efficiency but can impact building height and MEP coordination.
Optimized structural grids balance material efficiency with functional and architectural flexibility.
Lateral Force Resisting System v.s Cost
Design Variables
Governing lateral forces (wind, seismic, etc.)
Geographic location and hazard level
Gravity framing system
Building height and fundamental period
Evaluators
Interstory drift ratio
Impact on architectural space planning
Construction cost
Most Important Tradeoffs to Consider
Stiffer systems reduce drift but often increase material usage and cost.
Braced frames are cost-effective but can limit architectural openness and flexibility.
Moment frames provide greater spatial flexibility but require more complex and expensive connections.
Shear walls improve structural efficiency but reduce planning adaptability and usable floor area.
Stiffer systems may reduce nonstructural damage during extreme events, though they can increase maintenance and construction costs.
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Step 2 - Generative Design Study
I wanted to study the interaction between architecture and structure, therefore I chose to evaluate the “Flexibility v.s. Structural Efficiency” metric outlined in Step 1. In order to do this I needed to simplify the problem space.
From my structural background, I know that depth of beam members and width and height of column members directly correlates with the bay size. In order to develop a relationship between them I wanted to explore typical structural materials, first: concrete. Using this material I can use some engineering rules of thumb to correlate bay size and member depth for concrete elements. Thus, my first input was the bay size.
For my second input I wanted to explore how the span effects the architectural quality of the building, therefore I added an input for the level to level height.
Inputs (for Study)
Span Length
Level to Level Height
Inputs (included as Constants in Study)
Structural Material (Span to Depth Ratios for Columns and Beams)
Derived Quantities
Structural Depth
Beam Volume
Column Volume
Usable Interior Height
Outputs
Structural System Volume
Architectural Volume (Floor-to-Floor Height x Bay Floor Area)
A more detailed description of the design decision from Step 2 that you decided to run a Generative Design Study with.
Use the Generative Design Framework structure to explain how you’ve set up your Generative Design Study to keep it consistent.
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Step 3 - Generative Design Study Results
The screenshot of the Scatterplot or Parallel Coordinates Graph illustrating the tradeoff that you chose to model and study.
Provide a brief explanation of what’s being shown in the Scatterplot or Parallel Coordinates Graph and how the tradeoff being illustrated would impact the design decision. What would you do with this info?
An image of your Dynamo Study Graph (showing all your nodes and the connecting logic) -- You can use the File > Export Workspace As Image... command in Dynamo to save a PNG image to upload with your posting.